Saturday Double

Horses can quickly turn disappointment into joy and such was the case with Yesterday's Songs - the talented four-year-old below his best as favourite last weekend but able to bounce back with an impressive victory at Flemington

on Saturday.

Not having a great deal of luck at Moonee Valley, Yesterday's Songs was able to turn his form right around seven days later - showing plenty of heart when things went wrong over the final 300m of the fourth heat of the Winter Championship Series.

Travelling well just off the pace for Glen Boss, Yesterday's Songs looked to be cruising approaching the 300m but it was there that the field tightened, the bay having nowhere to go.

And it was not until the 100m that a split came - but when it did, Yesterday's Song was determined, bursting through the late gap and drawing clear to win by half a length.

"He was really brave," said a delighted Boss.

"He got chopped out of it but once clear he was very quick through the gap - he has got an explosive turn of foot."

Michael Moroney was excited by the victory, as was managing owner Rupert Legh who noted "he showed plenty of character with that win."

"When you know a horse has good ability it is great when you see them do it on race day," he said.

Moroney is looking forward to progressing to the Winter Championship Final with Yesterday's Songs and is hoping that he can carry the horse through to a spring preparation.

"He can have a quick break after the Final," he said, relieved to have the horse back to his best after he wanted to over-race from a wide gate at Moonee Valley.

"He just couldn't get any cover there but today from a good gate he was a totally different horse."

A son of Kingmambo's multiple Group One winner Henrythenavigator, Yesterday's Songs is out of the Listed winning End Sweep mare Sarah Vee who was also a member of Ballymore stables.

Served last spring by Fastnet Rock having produced a filly by that champion stallion last August, Sarah Vee is also dam of the Gr.2 placed Rahveel.

Yesterday's Songs' success was part of a big day for Ballymore with the promising The Bunsta also in winning form - racing clear to break his maiden by 2 1/4 lengths at Newcastle.

Appreciating the step up to 1400m, the son of Pentire was not entirely happy on the soft track but he proved a classy above his rivals with Moroney noting that he is "a nice horse in the making."

"He has taken a while to mature but he is certainly better than just a maiden winner."

"And he will be better ridden more quietly - we elected to take all bad luck out of the equation today by going forward but it is probably not the best way to ride him."

Moroney is confident that The Bunsta will get over more ground with his half-brother Fiscal Madness a multiple Group winner over 2000m.

"His dam is by Balmerino so he is bred to stick on a bit."

All of our Saturday runners performed well, About Square beaten less than three lengths first up down the straight whilst Bonnie Belle finished on strongly for a close up sixth after running into trouble at just her second Australian outing.

photo courtesy of Darryl Sherer