Yuill notches a century

Brilliant hoop Kyra “the jewel” Yuill recorded her 100th victory of the 2019-20 season after guiding Kia Ora Star to victory in Saturday’s Glenroy Chaff Handicap (1800m). And according to the humble star, it was somewhat fitting the milestone was aboard one of Michael Lane’s Boyanup-based horses. “At the start of the season I told my manager Daniel Cripps I wanted to ride 50 winners because it had been awhile since I had won 50 in a season,” Yuill said yesterday while on her way to trials at Lark Hill. “Then halfway through the year I thought bugger it — lets go for 100. It has been a fantastic season and Michael’s stable has been fantastic to me as well. “He has always supported me from when I started my apprenticeship and he certainly has gone through my ups and downs. “I have spent a lot of time with him and it was really nice to get it on one of his horses.” Such is the understanding and respect between trainer and rider, Lane has every confidence in Yuill to deliver. He lets her do what she needs to and she holds a great ability in understanding the characteristics of his horses. Therefore it should have come as no surprise that when the primed six-year-old was sitting fourth heading into the home turn, Yuill knew when to push the button and record Kia Ora Star’s first ever win at Ascot. “He has been an unlucky horse,” she said. “His runs to paper have been two very different things. Michael is a really fantastic trainer and has fitted him out super. “He deserved to win. “I think the horse has to be ridden forward. Michael is great to ride for because he just leaves it up to me and he was pretty happy with the plan I had for the race. “It was just from the sticky gate on whether it was going to work or not, but we were lucky to get into the one-one position.” It has been business as usual for Yuill since the triumph — completing a full card in Kalgoorlie on Sunday and trials on Monday at Lark Hill, where she was aboard a number of her father Graham’s runners. “We are only a small stable,” she said. “We mainly have the breakers and at the moment we have about four racehorses in work.”