By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Jeremy Young may have not got the result he desired with Plutonium Lady in her first hit-out for his stable a fortnight ago, but he is expecting an improved performance from the mare at Alexandra Park on Friday.
The daughter of Bettor’s Delight ran sixth at the Auckland track last start, but Young was pleased with the way she found the line late.
“She got away and then skipped a little and that probably cost her a little bit, but she got home alright,” the Pukekohe trainer said.
She will attempt to redeem herself in the OnRoad Transport LTD 2021 Winter Cup (2700m) where she will start from behind the 20m tape and Young has been pleased with her progress this week.
“This week she seems even better, so if we can get out there on even terms with them all I think she is a good each way chance,” he said.
Plutonium Lady joined Young’s barn following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 4YO Diamond (1609m) at Cambridge Raceway last month, with her owners wanting to take advantage of the strong stakes at Alexandra Park over winter.
“Mark (Jones, former trainer) has left her up here before with me and she has always been an honest type of horse. He said he might as well leave her in my name (after the Jewels),” Young said.
“It is a week-by-week proposition with her because after the Jewels the owners said we could leave her up here for a bit and see what Auckland does with their programming.
“We will just see what happens as to what we do with her, it is more up to the owners with what path she takes.”
Young was pleased with her Jewels run and said she took a lot of confidence from the result.
“It has been tough for her having to race the top geldings up in those grades, so when they get back into mares races it is a little easier for them. It helps them get their confidence back,” he said.
“She has done a great job this season.”
Young will also line-up last start placegetter John Wayne in the Congratulations To “The Blues” Mobile Pace (2200m).
He has been luckless with draws in his last few starts, but Young was pleased to see him stick on well last start to finish fourth after doing plenty of work.
“He has been going great. He won three starts back and he was a bit unlucky last start. He drew 13 and from there you are having to use a horse mid-race. He went around and sat parked and hung on well, I was rapt with that run. He just got pipped for third,” Young said.
“He has just been a bit unlucky with the draws. We have had an eight, 12, and 13. I said to the owners as a bit of a joke we were either going to be seven or 12 this week, and we got seven.
“We will have to play it by ear in that race, but he has trained on well this week and if he gets any luck, he will be right amongst it.”
With seven wins to his name this season it has been a bit quieter than usual for Young, but he said he has a couple of younger stock in his barn that he is looking forward to next season with.
“It has been a bit quieter, but I have sold a few horses and being a smaller stable it takes a while to crank back up again,” he said.
“There is a two-year-old filly that I really like called Lady Of The Light, and I look forward to racing her through November and December. I am pretty sure she will make the grade.
“It is good to have something to look forward to and I am pretty sure she will be a flagship horse for me next season.”