Yes he did: gelding nails it at last
YES You Did finally did what everyone had been waiting for on his home track yesterday.
As the sun set on the Wingatui racecourse, it also set on a run of almosts for the Graeme Meetrained galloper when he won race 9.
Yes You Did had threatened to win a race in 13 starts before his victory and had finished in the top five in his five runs before his win.
While there were cheers from the horse’s supporters roaring out from the grandstands, Graeme Mee was not jumping up and down.
Instead, he was focusing on his job as clerk of the Wingatui course, keeping an eye on the field until all horses and riders had pulled up safely.
Mee credited BB Hong for helping to develop Yes You Did, who has an arsenal of tricks to throw at his riders, into a winner.
The South Koreanborn Hong gave Yes You Did a perfect trip three back in the running line before launching the horse for his winning run before the home turn.
Members of a Brisbane tour group were among those cheering home the winners at Wingatui yesterday.
The tour party added to what was a strong crowd for an industrystyle Tuesday race meeting.
The group is on a tour of the South Island’s racetracks and had attended Saturday’s Riccarton meeting before travelling to Dunedin.
Their experience at the two tracks led to rave reviews.
‘‘The hospitality was overwhelming — it’s overwhelming. You don’t get a lot of that at the tracks where we come from,’’ tour leader Steve Hewlett said.
The tour party members are regulars at similar race meetings in Australia and revealed that the racing experience in New Zealand had pluses over what they got at home.
Hewlett, who is a racing broadcaster with Radio TAB in Brisbane, said he would be singing the praises of the South Island’s racing clubs when he got home.
‘‘Today, the atmosphere here for a Tuesday meeting was fantastic.
‘‘We were surprised. We love how it’s free entry here.’’