Last night, Moonee Valley hosted this season’s eighth heat of the Essendon Mazda 55 Second Challenge over 955 metres. Rapidement had drawn gate nine in the ten horse field. Dean Yendall was instructed to urge her forward in the early stages to hopefully take up a forward role.
Dean did just that but beneath him the rest of the field were displaying early pace. Rapidement was in danger of being caught wide, and so the experienced jockey took matters in to his own hand. He allowed the others to push up and the grey mare settled in an uncustomary role at the rear of the field.
Along the fence, Dean rode for luck – and got it. Others were taken wider and Rapidement made up ground at the turn. She continued to close in the straight and pushed out to claim the lead fifty metres from home.
She won in a time of 55.96 seconds, less than half a second outside the fastest time for the season to date.
“She couldn’t keep up with” explained Dean Yendall about the mare’s performance during the early stages of the race.
“It was an excellent ride,” said trainer Ricky Maund after the win, “It might not have gone the way we planned – but if Dean went forward he would have been posted six
wide and from there she wouldn’t have had a chance. They go a lot faster at this level.”
“The mare has pulled up a treat” said Andy Taylor who saddled up the mare on the day. “You wouldn’t have known she went around.”
Ricky agreed. “She’s bright. She got off the float at Corinella after the return trip and started running around like a two year old – I think she’s pretty happy with herself”
It was Rapidement’s sixth win and took her career earnings to $113,000.
