Yorokobi seeks change of fortune

By Jonny Turner

The search for luck continues for Yorokobi at Addington on Thursday night.

The Regan Todd trained three-year-old returns to the scene of his epically unlucky New Zealand Derby run in race 9.

The smart three-year-old was handed a bitter blow before the Group One feature when he was handed barrier 16.

After copping a predictable run from that horror alley Yorokobi and driver Robbie Close went to the line full of running on the back of third placegetter The Falcon.

“When he drew where he did it was never going to be easy and when he was last and the three wide line never got going he was never going to get around them,” Todd said.

“The good thing is the run has done him the world of good, he didn’t have a gut-buster or anything.”

Yorokobi should get his shot at some group race redemption in next week’s Southern Supremacy Stakes.

The three-year-old currently sits tenth on the order of entry and highly likely to get a start.

“We rolled the dice a bit because there are three that have to win at Winton to get into it,” Todd said.

“So, I will be watching Friday’s races with interest.”

Before then Yorokobi steps out on Thursday night, where he has been handed another tricky draw in barrier three on the second row.

Race tempo is set to play a key role in how the three-year-old and Robbie Close overcome it.

“It will be a bit tricky from the draw” Todd said.

“If something got an easy lead it might be hard to chase them down, but I will just leave it to Robbie.”

“If they are going too slow he will have to put him into it.”

“But he has come through the derby really well and I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Yorkobi opened the $2.30 fixed odds favourite for race 8.

Todd lines up one more horse on Thursday night in Only One Way in race 9.

The trainer has a massive job on his hands, taking over a horse from trotting master Phil Williamson.

Williamson and owner Neville Skinner sent the horse to Todd for beach work following a tendon issue.

Though pleased with the trotter since his arrival, Todd has a warning for punters.

And it become even more important after Only One Way opened the $6.50 favourite for his 2600m assignment.

“I have been really happy with his work he has gone two quite nice trials.”

“But he is as big as a bull so I think it might take him a couple of runs for him to get really fit.”

Matthew Williamson reunites with Only One Way on Thursday night.