Eiger Sanction bursts through late to beat Total Surrender by a long-head with Moola Man a short-head further back. (JC Photos)
St. John Gray increased his number of wins this season to 15, every one of them ridden by Muzi Yeni.
Yeni has probably had close to 50% of the rides on the Gray runners this season, but that is still a remarkable statistic.
Yeni was in the news last week for his partnership with the Gray-trained Argonaut gelding Argo Alley, whom he has ridden five times in the horse’s career, which started two-and-a-half years ago, and he has won on him all five times.
He now deserves accolades for his partnership with the Gray-trained Potala Palace colt Eiger Sanction.
Today Muzi produced Eiger Sanction from midfield, after managing to find a good position from draw ten out of eleven in a handicap over 1700m, and he managed to get his nose down on the line after surging late between horses.
That made it four on the trot for Eiger Sanction.
This horse had had 19 starts for one win when Yeni first got on him.
After his first ride on him he must have made the suggestion to remove the blinkers, which he had worn for 16 successive starts.
With the blinkers off he ran a narrow third and then reeled off the four wins on the trot.
His merit rating has risen from 64 to 80 this season and he will be given more points for today’s win.
Muzi Yeni has sure proved himself a fine horsemen over the years and he just gets better and better.
Will he be able to retain his 14 win lead in the championship?
