While prominent stables like Maher and Waller were dominant on the Caulfield Sunday program, no win resonated more deeply than Lucy Yeomans’ triumph with Changing Colours in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes.
For Yeomans, who previously worked for Ciaron Maher where big race victories were common, securing a Group 2 success under her own name was an unparalleled achievement as Changing Colours ($3.80) transitioned from a reliable benchmark performer to a black-type winner.
The 1600-metre feature, contested by four-year-old mares and older, represented the pinnacle of Yeomans’ burgeoning training career.
“It’s incredible,” Yeomans stated. “These are the things you dream about and we get out of bed for this horse.
“She’s the one that is keeping the team alive at the moment as we’ve got all unraced horses. To have her as leading the way is really special.
“Group Two-winning trainer, sounds quite nice, doesn’t it? Full credit to the team at home. We’re a small team but we’re all good mates and we work really hard.”
The victory held significance even for Yeomans’ partner, Blake Shinn, a jockey with 34 Group 1 wins to his name.
“This is all about Lucy and forging her own business as a trainer,” Shinn commented.
“To get her first Group 2 win on the board here is really special and we just have to thank the ownership group.
“To pull this win off today is like winning a Group 1 for us, honestly. We got her as a 73-rater and now we’ve taken her to a Group 2 Stocks Stakes. Just shows how good a trainer Lucy is and is going to be. I’m just so proud of her and the horse and the team.
“It is very, very special.”
“To win a race like this with Blake aboard, he rode our first winner and now he’s ridden our first Group winner,” Yeomans added.
Changing Colours secured victory by a length over the favoured Sass Appeal ($2.15), with Too Darn Discreet ($5.50) finishing a further 1¼ lengths behind in third.
Shinn expressed confidence in targeting the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10, whereas Yeomans remains more reserved about the mare’s immediate future, considering a spell or another outing, with potential Magic Millions features in January also a possibility.
Since relocating to Yeomans’ stable from Chris Waller’s in May, Changing Colours has achieved four wins from five starts.
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