Written by Georgie Dennis
The quick back-up was no issue for Yes Baby Yes (Dissident) as she blitzed her rivals in the G2 Fillies’ Classic at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained 3-year-old ran a gallant second to Fillies' Classic rival Incredulous Dream (Press Statement) at Caulfield a week earlier and was given a well-rated ride by Craig Williams as she led from point to post and ran away in the straight to win by 3.75l.
Ecumenical (Zebedee {GB}) came home in second with Miss Inbetween (Fighting Sun) another 2l back in third.
Troy Corstens credited the filly’s tough nature for continuing to perform despite being in work since January this year.
"She's as tough as nails," Corstens said. "You wouldn't believe it, but she's been up since January this girl.
“She raced as a 2-year-old, right into her 3-year-old year. Nine runs for this prep."
“She raced as a 2-year-old, right into her 3-year-old year. Nine runs for this prep." - Troy Corstens
Corstens said the use of their farm facility was one of the major factors in keeping the filly performing so well for so long.
"She goes (to the farm) on a Monday morning and she'll go out in the paddock for three or four days - she still works while she's up there," Corstens said.
“It just keeps them happy. Some like going to the beach, some like going to the paddock and she likes going to the paddock.
"I just love her. She's so tough. Things haven't always gone her way, but she puts herself out in front and she held on today.”
Craig Williams and Yes Baby Yes
Williams also credited the stable for keeping the filly up for so long and said that setting a slow tempo out in front was the key to getting her to run out the mile.
"Full credit, not only to her, but also her training combination and all the staff because she's been up for a long time, so to back her up seven days later, they were that confident in her, she delivered,” the jockey said.
"She's not the best lead up horse, so I had to go slow for her to run out a solid mile, but she was really good today."
Bred and sold by Sledmere Stud, Yes Baby Yes was purchased by Flemington Bloodstock and Malua Racing for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Exabelle, who herself is out of Avabelle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), the half-sister to G1 New Zealand S. winner Gaze (Cape Cross {Ire}).
Exabelle has an unraced 2-year-old named No Baby No (Shooting To Win) and a yearling filly by Speith (NZ) while she is currently back in foal to Dissident.
