Dean Yendall will take a leaf out of the book of champion jockey Glen Boss and use his lightweight to advantage on two year old Boomwaa in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Dean Yendall to take advantage of lightweight on Boomwaa in Black Caviar Lightning. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The lightweight jockey cast his eye back to 2009 to recall Boss’ ride on ten time Group 1 winner So You Think to win the first of his two Group 1 $3m Cox Plates (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
As a three year old So You Think only had to carry 49.5kgs and Boss had no hesitation in taking the Bart Cummings trained colt straight to the front and force the others to chase him under their big weights.
Yendall realises that this is not a Cox Plate but he is keen to use the same tactics and see if the older sprinters can match it with the Robbie Laing trained youngster with his featherweight of 46kgs.
“I know it’s a different type of race over a different distance but Boss knew he had a light weight that day and let the horse roll and I’ll be doing the same on Boomwaa,’’ Yendall told the Herald Sun.
Yendall said that he had no problems getting down to Boomwaa’s weight of 46kgs after trainer Laing informed him that he had the ride last week.
“I haven’t done it that hard to be honest. I stripped down to 50kg when I learned I got the ride last Wednesday and I’ve got the weigh down on veggies, fish and chicken,’’ Yendall said.
But he will still be using the smallest saddle he has in his kit bag to make up his gear on the two year old.
In contrast Yendall is also booked to ride Laing’s top three year old Polanski who has the equal top weight of 57.5kgs in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m).
But unfortunately it looks as if Yendall might be able to leave his heavy saddle at home with Polanski still suffering from a skin disorder that forced his withdrawal last week from the Group 2 $220,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and he could be scratched again.
Boomwaa showed his liking for the 1000m Flemington course with a three lengths win in the Group 3 $150,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Maribyrnong Plate during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
While it is rare to see a two year old competing in the Black Caviar Lightning, this year there are two juveniles with Team Hawkes taking advantage of the weight for age scale with Bugatty also only to carry 46kgs.
Dean Holland has scored the ride on Bugatty and is certain to go out hard after the Dreamscape colt led all of the way in winning over the course and distance on January 11.
Boomwaa is currently a $14 chance in the Ladbrokes.com.au Black Caviar Lightning market order which has the Mick Price trained Samaready the $3.30 favourite ahead of speedy Sydney mare Snitzerland at $4.40 and last year’s Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress at $7.
Bugatty has been marked as a $31 chance.
