Yes Yes Yes upstaged his older rivals Saturday when taking the Group 1 The TAB Everest by a half-length over Santa Ana Lane.
Yes Yes Yes, the only 3-year-old in the field, became the first horse other than Redzel to win the race. The six-furlong contest has a purse of $14 million in Australian dollars, making it the world’s richest turf race. The winner’s share of the purse is $6 million.
Early on it was Nature Strip, a stablemate of the winner, that forced the pace alongside Sunlight. Yes Yes Yes was running in mid-pack, and had several lengths to make up once the field hit the home straight.
Yes Yes Yes took command under jockey Glen Boss with a furlong to run and held off the late charge of favorite Santa Ana Lane for the victory. Trekking closed for third, a half-length further back, with dual winner Redzel weakening late and eventually coming home eighth.
Yes Yes Yes, a colt by Rubick out of Sin Sin Sin, by Fantastic Light, was the first starter in The Everest for trainer Chris Waller, who trained the amazing Winx during her stellar career. Yes Yes Yes was previously trained by Darren Weir, who has been suspended by racing authorities.
In an interview with local media after the race, an emotional Waller said, “That was a special performance.”
"Where we have been with Winx has set us up to cope better with days like this. The Everest is a race people can relate to as they're familiar with every runner. These are the best sprinters in Australia.”
Owner Brae Sokolski sold a half-share in Yes Yes Yes to Coolmore in March. After the race a jubilant Sokolski told the Sydney Morning Herald, "Chris is phenomenal. Nothing flusters him and he's a brilliant horseman and businessman. That package is rare.”
The race was also a memorable one for jockey Glen Boss, who famously scored a hat-trick in the G1 Melbourne Cup with star mare Makybe Diva between 2003 and 2005.
Boss said, "It's a huge moment in my career and it's an amazing feeling – my body is on fire right now.
"He's a top-quality sprinter. He gave me goosebumps galloping him last week and today he gave me electric shocks."
