Kembla preview: Claire Lever's patience pays off with Yes Siree
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.'
Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree.
From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step.
'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever.
'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be.
Trainer Claire Lever with her jockey/husband, Chad. Picture: Bradley Photos
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
'He grew more than we expected and took time to mature.
'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out.
'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.'
Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1.
'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said.
'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing.
'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.'
That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare.
Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride.
'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said.
'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much.
'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.'
Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in.
He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride.
The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later.
A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11.
'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said.
'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay.
'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade.
'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again.
'His form on wet tracks in good so I'm going to Kembla confident he will handle the conditions.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Yulong chases quick return on Grinzinger Belle investment in Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara at Eagle Farm
Yulong could get a quick return on investment with Grinzinger Belle in the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara on Saturday at Eagle Farm. Chinese billionaire Yuesheng Zhang, owner of breeding and racing giant Yulong, paid $1.45m for the bold frontrunning mare and multiple Group 2 winner last month at the Inglis Chairman's Sale. Grinzinger Belle, trained by Danny O'Brien, is an $11 chance in pre-nominations Tatt's Tiara markets. O'Brien's racing manager Jack Howard said Grinzinger Belle had progressed as planned to target the 1400m Eagle Farm feature with fresh legs – 10 weeks between runs. 'Her fresh record is pretty good and that trip, hopefully we get a result for Yulong,' Howard said. 'She probably deserves a good race. 'We always had a plan to head up there with her, obviously John (Wheeler) sold her and Yulong purchased her and we were lucky enough to get her back to train, which we are grateful for. 'Hopefully we can get a result up there for (Yulong) and continue the relationship going forward.' It's a Sunline Stakes route 🤩 Grinzinger Belle emulates the great Sunline, stringing her opposition out & running them off their feet over the Valley mile ðŸ'¥ @decbates @DOBrienRacing â€' (@Racing) March 22, 2025 • Grinzinger Belle last raced on April 12 in Sydney, finished midfield in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m). The four-year-old travelled up to Queensland after a sharp Flemington jumpout late last month. 'They really went along, one of Gai's (Waterhouse) won the trial by about five or six, Zac Spain rode (the jump out) and hardly moved and she went through her gears, it was a good test,' Howard said. Sydney-based Group 1 jockey Tim Clark has been booked to ride Grinzinger Belle on Saturday. Grinzinger Belle is off & gone with the cash in the Let's Elope Stakes ðŸ'¥ @LaneDamian @DOBrienRacing â€' (@Racing) September 14, 2024 Howard confirmed Brave Design would tackle the Listed Tattersall's Stakes (1400m). The two-year-old Brave Smash colt won the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) last start at Eagle Farm. Brave Design, a well-travelled colt who raced in Melbourne and Adelaide before the Sunshine State raid, placed fourth in the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) two starts back. Jockey Jordan Childs will again head to Brisbane to pilot Brave Design. 'It's really good, Jordie went to Adelaide and rode him, he's ridden him twice up there and ridden him well,' Howard said.
Herald Sun
5 hours ago
- Herald Sun
NRL 2025: Sua Fa'alogo and Storm keen for more Victorians to play for club
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. As the Storm celebrated their thrilling golden point victory over the Rabbitohs on Saturday night, children flooded the Accor Stadium tunnel to get selfies with their favourite players while begging for jerseys, boots and socks. Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen were in high demand, but the player that the kids really wanted to see was Sua Fa'alogo as he feasted on a bucket of chips and answered questions about Melbourne's pledge to improve pathways programs for Victorians wanting to play in the NRL. Only a few nights earlier, Fa'alogo was at a training session in Broadmeadows to help out some of the record-breaking 6000 Victorians who have registered to play the 2025 season, with the club's Jersey Flegg side now second on the table. It's all part of the club's Road to AAMI Park program that acknowledged the lack of locals who have represented the club, with the Storm now providing a clear pathway for youngsters to one day represent their city in the NRL. Fa'alogo is one of five Victorians to play for the Storm in the NRL, and he's confident that number will rise thanks to the club's efforts on and off the field to produce the next Dean Ieremia or Young Tonumaipea. 'I'm very grateful to have more Victorians coming up playing rugby league,' he said. 'What the Melbourne Storm is doing with their program down there is pretty massive now, and it's great to see so many Victorians coming up to play. Hopefully, we see more playing in the NRL soon. 'We go to schools sometimes and help out the little kids with the pathways. 'It's so good to see the Storm take their time to go out and help those young Victorian kids who are coming up. 'I'm very grateful for the opportunity to play for the Storm and to see so many young Victorians want to play in the NRL.' The Samoan star is still relatively new to the game but has shown off his incredible skills for the Storm despite only starting his rugby league journey less than a decade ago. 'I stopped playing AFL and started playing rugby league when I was 13,' he said. 'One of my mates from school told me to come and play for the Northern Thunder. It was pretty hard to learn at first coming from a union background, but I learnt the rules and it's been good.' Footy fans are glad he made the switch, with Fa'alogo dazzling on debut with two tries against the Broncos in 2023, while he came up with a stunning solo play on Saturday to save the Storm. The young gun was found out defensively a few times but stood tall when it mattered most as he held onto a towering Latrell Mitchell bomb, tore through the defence and set up Tyran Wishart for a crucial try.
Courier-Mail
5 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
‘Cannot let that go': Ugly moment proves Carlton has lost the plot
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Leading Fox Footy analyst David King has exposed Carlton in brutal fashion after an ugly moment during their loss to North Melbourne. The Blues were 'bullied' in eyes of legendary goalkicker Jonathan Brown as North Melbourne came from behind to leave the axe hovering over Carlton coach Michael Voss' head with a 13.6 (84) to 10.13 (73) win at the MCG. Leading by nine points at the first change, Carlton gave up 12 goals to three over the next two quarters as fans began booing Blues players. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. King on Sunday showed a concerning sight for Blues supporters when cameras captured a moment where star ruckman Tom De Koning was 'put into the fence' by Kangaroos ruckman Tristan Xerri without any counter-strikes from angry Blues teammates. Blues star Patrick Cripps and Ollie Hollands were the only players to make an effort on De Koning's behalf. King said the moment tells you everything you need to know about the Blues as their season slipped to a 6-8 record. You can watch the footage in the video player above. Vision shared on Fox Footy. 'Ollie Hollands comes up and gives the most gentle of taps, the captain (Patrick Cripps) walks in and hardly affects Xerri's walking pattern. What is that from Adam Cerra?,' King said. 'Not one other player comes in to remonstrate as their big ruckman gets to his feet.' King showed another piece of vision from behind the goals which showed Xerri walked past Blues players at the interval and wasn't met with any hostile treatment, reports. 'Every team I played in would've come for him and made a stand: 'We're not having that happen to one of our boys. This is one of our brothers. This is the guy we go to battle with. I've got your back, you've got mine',' King added. 'That is not the case at Carlton and that permeates through the group. You cannot let that go unchecked. 'When Michael Voss says, 'We were bullied today', that's what he's talking about. 'A Carlton fan would be saying: 'What's happened to my proud club? Where's the fight?' King said it's a moment Carlton's senior players would want back to make a stand for their teammate. 'Patrick had to be stronger. I don't care if he gave away a free kick, the game was gone anyway. I was really disappointed,' the Roos great said. 'In that moment you're allowed to lose your mind a fraction. 'Jacob Weitering, Sam Docherty, George Hewett. They've got so many senior core players who could've done more to fly the flag.' The heat is well and truly on Brisbane Lions legend Voss. Disappointed Carlton players Tom De Koning and Charlie Curnow walk from the ground after the loss. Photo by. Gerard Healy commented on Fox Footy: 'Vossy needs a miracle right now.' That's when Brown gave the ultimate insult towards an established team facing one of the most inexperienced lists in the AFL. 'They're getting bullied,' he said of the Blues. 'They're getting beaten up, they're getting beaten up by a younger midfield for North Melbourne. The whole team for that matter. 'Michael Voss would be extremely disappointed. When a team physically confronts you, you either stand up or you roll over. 'Carlton have rolled over against a younger team.' When the Blues kicked the ball from side to side in their back half nearing three-quarter-time, the boos continued and Brown said: 'This isn't going to get you back in the game. 'That's why the crowd's booing.' Originally published as 'Cannot let that go': Ugly moment proves Carlton has lost the plot
