Exciting mare Yonce improved her unbeaten streak to six at Flemington, taking out the G.H. Mumm ‘Mystic Journey’ at Flemington on All Star Mile day.
Stepping up to 2000m for the first time, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace trained Yonce was sent out at a prohibitive quote of $1.18 and backers never had much cause for concern in the small field of six.
After beginning only fairly, jockey John Allen got to the outside coming around the turn and ambled up to the leaders under hands and heels. The Michael Moroney trained Star Of Eden fought on gamely for second, 3/4 of a length away, with a further 4¼ lengths back to third.
Allen, who has ridden Yonce in her last five wins, was full of praise and suggested she could’ve won by further: “I wanted to stay off the fence early and make a good thing of it, but as it transpired if we box-seated behind the runner up it’d probably have been a lot easier winner.”
Stable representative Lucy Yeomans hinted that she could aim higher at her next outing, saying that “Dave (Eustace) called and said depending on how she pulls up we will look to send her to the Queen Of The Turf (Coolmore Legacy Stakes) in Sydney in three weeks.”
When asked about the potential Group One target, Allen suggested Yonce would find a “high pressure mile race right up her street”.
“She’s shown last time that she handles a soft track well, so if she pulls up and is 100 per cent going in there I’m sure she will give it a big shout.”
With the news that Yonce may head to Sydney next, Ladbrokes have wound her price into $11.00 for the race, which takes place on the second day of the Championships at Royal Randwick.