Double for touring Yesberg

By Jonny Turner

Trent Yesberg can set off on his upcoming travels across the South Island with a smile after bagging a winning double at Motukarara on Tuesday.

Like many trainers, the Ohoka horseman will clock up plenty of miles with his horse float over the Christmas-New Year period.

After taking three horses to Motukarara, Yesberg will start two runners at Reefton on Wednesday before lining up three more at Omakau on Saturday.

The trainer’s drive to the West Coast was made easier after he combined with driver Matthew Williamson to win with Majestic Action and Shady Ruler on Tuesday.  

Majestic Action repaid the faith her trainer has had in her since she joined his stable six starts ago a maiden win in race 6.

Much of Yesberg’s decent opinion of the five-year-old comes from the raw speed she has shown him in training.

“I said to Matty just believe in the speed.”

“She is the fastest trotter I have ever driven.”

“She might not be that tough, but she is extremely fast.”

Majestic Action placed in one of her four starts for Yesberg before he put her aside early in the spring.

She returned with a solid fifth at Methven earlier this month before powering home to win on Tuesday.

“Last time in she showed so much ability, but we couldn’t get her right.”

“In hindsight, we probably went on a wee bit too long.”

“We turned her out and she has come back in and just been so much happier.”

“She has got a really big motor, she is quite impressive with what she can do.”

“But she takes a bit of managing and I think we have figured out her work regime and everything now.”

Before Majestic Action zoomed home with her big finish Shady Ruler did the same when sweeping down the outer to win race 5.

The four-year-old was let go at big $19 odds after running seventh on debut at Rangiora last week.

Punters must have missed what Yesberg and Williamson both considered a good last start effort.

“She had trialled up great,” Yesberg said.

“She had pretty much been in the first three in all of her trials and workouts and we had been thrilled with her.”

“At Rangiora, she actually galloped for about ten strides around the bend and lost four or five lengths.”

“Matty said if he didn’t lose that ground he would have been in the first four for sure.”

“He was really confident today, probably even more confident than me.”

“He said if she had drawn the front line she would have been very hard to beat, but as it turned out it didn’t matter.”

Shady Ruler looks to have a solid future judging by her fast-finishing maiden win.

Yesberg thinks her brilliant attitude will be the key to her winning more races.

“She is a handy wee mare.”

“She is very honest, she gives her all whether it is in training or at the trials.”

“She has never let us down.”

“That is the thing that I love about her – she is really honest.”

“When you turn up to the trials or work you know what you are going to get and that is 100%.”

Yesberg will set off for Reefton on Wednesday with two runners who are both newcomers to the West Coast Christmas racing circuit.

Rocknroll Diva will debut for the trainer in race 2 and he also lines up Vin Scully in race 6.