By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Regally-bred colt Yogi Son has a lot to live up to and he will begin that task at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday.
The Majestic Son juvenile will make his debut in the 2YO Mobile Trot (1700m) and trainer Kyle Marshall said he will use the non-tote race as an educational outing for the colt who has won both of his trials to date.
“He is well liked by everyone around the place, he has got a big following,” Marshall said.
“With it being a non-tote, it is going to be treated more as education for the horse.
“In his trials I just wanted him to do everything right and in his last trial I thought I would see what he does out of the gate and he came out of the gate pretty quick, a bit quicker than I wanted him to this early in his career, but that is an easy fix.”
Yogi Son is out of four-win mare Yankeedoosie, a full-sister to multiple Group One winner I Can Doosit and Group Three winner Sno’s Big Boy, and the dam of Group One performer American Pride and five-win gelding Forget The Price Tag.
He was duly sought-after when offered through Breckon Farm’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred Yearling Sale draft and was secured by Marshall’s final bid of $60,000.
“He is well-bred, and I like the family, he had standout looks and a great attitude,” Marshall said.
A number of well-known stable clients swiftly bought into the colt, including former All Whites coach Ricki Herbert and former trainer Bryce Espin, with Yogi Son set to carry the latter’s purple and pink silks.
“I bought the horse and Bryce came in with a big share,” Marshall said.
“There are a good bunch of owners, including Ricki Herbert, and some first-time owners that have also taken shares in other horses I have bought from the sales. It is quite exciting.”
Marshall is set to line-up another runner for Herbert on Thursday – Son Of Mac in the Sky Major Standing At Wai Eyre Farm Mobile Pace (2200m).
The juvenile is another New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred graduate, with Marshall purchasing him out of Leanach Lodge’s draft for $60,000.
The son of American Ideal has had two starts to date, both in the Young Guns series, and he will be fresh-up on Thursday where he will start from the outside of the second row.
“Son Of Mac is a lovely horse and has come back nice, but he has drawn averagely so we will see what happens,” Marshall said.
Son Of Mac will carry Herbert’s familiar colours which he inherited from his father Clive, for whom he trained in partnership for two seasons in the nineties.
While Herbert is kept busy with his football coaching business, Marshall said he is still a frequent face around the stable.
“He has been quite full on with football, but he gets to the stables when he can,” Marshall said.
