Kiwi Bred Young Werther Back for Another Big Spring

Media Release - Saturday August 31

Seven-year-old gelding Young Werther indicated he is in for another good campaign when resuming from a brief break with a strong win in the Quayclean Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Young Werther beats Duke De Sessa in the Quayclean Handicap at Caufield Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

The Danny O’Brien-trained son of Tavistock lumped 61kgs under Blake Shinn and sat just behind a strong tempo set by eventual runner-up Duke De Sessa, getting the better of that rival after the pair sprinted for home early, scoring by three-quarters of a length.

With five wins to his name from 34 starts and a further 12 placings, the veteran middle-distance galloper has competed at the highest level and is five-time Group One placed.

Among those elite level placings are a second and third placing in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in 2021 and 2022 respectively, and connections of Young Werther are keen to make it third time lucky.

Winning trainer Danny O’Brien was impressed with the win as Young Werther advanced his career earnings to A$2,100,950 in a slick time of 2:01.41.

“He’s got 61kgs on his back and he is only a little fella, but he did that last spring, winning a race with 61.5kgs,” O’Brien said.

“It was a proper race for the two of them really, they levelled out a long way from home. It always looked like he was going to get the better of the second horse, but he had to do it, and I thought it was a good effort.”

O’Brien is convinced Young Werther has continued to improve as he has aged.

“He was always a little backward horse and his last two winters he has been to Brisbane and he has come back from Queensland both times really well,” he said.

“I think he will go to a better level again this spring and he only needs to find a length or two to win a nice race. He has been around the mark in a few decent Group Ones.”

The Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 5 looms as an obvious target.

“He has run second in it and third in it as a younger horse and he still gets in well at set weights and penalties, where he doesn’t get the penalty,” O’Brien said.

“He has got a great record at Flemington over the 2000m and we can use that to see where he goes to from there.

“We have stayed away from Caulfield because he has never really gone well here, but he has won here today so there is a chance he could go from a Turnbull into a Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m) this year.”

Young Werther was purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by O’Brien, in partnership with Aquis Farm, for $140,000.

Out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time, Young Werther is a half-brother to last season’s Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner About Time, along with stakes placegetter Romantic Lady. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Young Werther Back in Winning Form
Multiple Group One performer Young Werther notched the second victory of his career when prevailing in a close finish at Flemington on Saturday over 2000m for trainer Danny O’Brien under a well-timed Billy Egan ride as he claimed runner-up Milford on the line.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Bella Now Second Highest Ever Australian Stakes Earner
Seven year-old Pride of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina bounced out of her Everest win two weeks ago to claim another lucrative prize when scoring a scintillating victory in the $3million ATC Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
Kiwi Bred Young Werther Back in Winning Form
Multiple Group One performer Young Werther has relished racing in lesser-grade, with the Danny O’Brien-trained son of Tavistock lumping 61.5kgs to score in the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.