WARRNAMBOOL Cup-winning jockey Dean Yendall would love to ride hot favourite Yankee Rose in the $1-million VRC Oaks at Flemington on November 3, but top jockey Blake Shinn will be back in the saddle.
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Yendall rode the David Vandyke-trained Yankee Rose into third place behind superstar mare Winx and Hartnell in the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Horsham-based hoop, who has been the leading jockey in the western district for more than 10 years, was delighted with the effort of Yankee Rose in the group one classic.
“I thought Yankee Rose was awesome,” he said.
“The race was run at a hot speed. I travelled well in the run and I was lucky to be where I wanted to be. I was really happy with her as she hit the line solidly.
“I was rapt for David and Yankee Rose’s connections. She's only small but she has a big heart.
“Blake was suspended, but he’ll be back for the Oaks. I've won a group one and got a third placing so I can't complain.”
Yankee Rose, who is $2.10 favourite to win the Oaks, took her stake earnings to more than $2.1 million after picking up $220,000 in prizemoney with her third-placing in the Cox Plate.
The three-year-old filly has won four of her eight starts.
The last four times a filly has gone on to contest the Oaks after running in the Cox Plate they have won; Tristanagh (1989), Slight Chance (1992), Miss Finland (2006) and Samantha Miss (2008).
Yendall rode Master Of Arts to win this year's Warrnambool Cup.
Black Heart Bart trained at Darren Weir's Warrnambool satellite stable ran ninth in the Cox Plate. Jockey Brad Rawiller said Black Heart Bart struggled on the wet track.