Big owners give emerging trainer her chance

Cranbourne-based trainer Lucy Yeomans is thankful for the opportunity to train a horse for some of Australia’s highest profiles owners.

Yeomans will saddle former Chris Waller-trained mare Changing Colours in the Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1420m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Among the ownership group are Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski who have each tasted success in some of Australia’s biggest races.

It was through Yeomans previous employment with Ciaron Maher that she got to know Kheir and Sokolski while her partner, jockey Blake Shinn, has ridden feature winners for the pair.

“Brae gave a big push for the horse to come to us which I’m very grateful for,” Yeomans said.

A rising six-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun, Changing Colours won three of her 15 starts for Waller before transferring to her new stable.

Yeomans said Waller had sent her an email about the mare.

“He’s been really nice, accommodating and forthcoming about the horse,” Yeomans said of Waller.

“She’s a bit of a quirky mare and they just thought she would be better suited to a smaller environment.

“She’s come up really well and we’re really excited to get her to the races.

“We’ve taken our time with her, got to know her, and she spends a lot of time out in the sandhills.

“We thought that was a point of difference to what she has been used to, but she left Chris’ in great order before coming to us.”

Yeomans said Changing Colours had galloped and trialled well in preparation for her first run since February.

The mare won a 1000m jump-out at Cranbourne on June 1 having finished fourth in another jump-out at that course the previous month.

“She seems a naturally fit horse, she has good first-up form, has drawn a nice gate,” Yeomans said.

“We are not going there expecting to win, but it’s a nice kick off point and ideally the owners want to get some Black Type.

“At her best she might be, those fringe Black Type races, so we’ll see how we go on Saturday.”