By Jonny Turner
Yankee Party is looking more like a democrat than a republican ahead of her resumption at Winton on Thursday.
The John and Katrina Price trained mare should be popular in the polls leading into a highly competitive feature mobile pace following two recent workout wins.
Those two performances clearly show the five-year-old is ready to make an impact as she attempts to complete a hat-trick of wins in her first start since July.
“She is all good to go now, we have got a couple of workouts into her,” John Price said.
“We would have liked to have given her a start before now, but she has a back issue that flares up now and then.”
“We have had the vets on to it and she is over it now, it usually only takes her a week to get over it.”
“We have separated her from her paddock mate and are just trying to manage it.”
Yankee Party has dashed home from midfield in her last two winning performances.
It is more than likely the mare will drift off the pace again in Thursday’s 2400m event.
However, in-form reinsman Nathan Williamson has options as Yankee Party has the necessary gate speed if he wants to put her on the pace.
“She does have options, but we will leave that up to Nathan – he has driven more 800 winners and I have driven none,” Price quipped.
Yankee Party’s recent progression on the track and overcoming her back complaint means the Prices can aim the mare at some nice races.
How she goes on Thursday may decide what exact path she takes.
“We are aiming her at the final of the Southern Belle series on Diamonds Day down here,” Price said.
“If she doesn’t win that she would still be eligible for the South Of The Waitaki race at cup week.”
“But if she did win there is a nice mares race for her and Pearl Harbour on Show Day.”
Race 10 is set to be an exciting and highly competitive contest, featuring a stack of winning chances.
Bridesdale Robyn, A Delightful Act and Folklore look the biggest threats to Yankee Party.
After dominating Saturday’s Northern Southland meeting, Williamson is again a key trainer and driver to follow on Thursday.
Williamson starts both Andy Hall and Sekkie Monkey from his stable in race 7, the Wairio meeting’s feature trot.
Andy Hall will start for the first time since running third in just his fourth start in March.
The five-year-old has been prepared for his return with two Winton workouts.
Andy Hall won the latest of those, beating his stablemate Sekkie Monkey, last Friday.
Williamson will drive Andy Hall, who starts from the front line in the 2400m event.
Stable junior driver, Oliver Kite, will drive Sekkie Monkey, who starts from the 20m mark.
