Elle Yeah gives Picker his first Group 1

EVERY now and then harness racing throws up a Cinderella story which makes people love the sport and even more than they already do and want to become more involved.

It took all day for that to occur in today's NSW Breeders Challenge finals and there was no more popular winner than Elle Yeah, who gave Bigga (near Crookwell) trainer-driver Dennis Picker his first Group One success when he took out the four-year-old mares' final at Tabcorp Park Menangle today.

While everyone expected odds-on favourite Cherry Stride to make a one-act affair of the $100,000 Group One, Picker certainly didn't see it that way and came with a well-timed run in the straight to run down Cherry Stride to score by a neck on a 1:52.2 mile rate.

While Cherry Stride fought back strongly in the straight, Elle Yeah had done a lot less work and prevailed narrowly with unwanted outsider Rocknroll Emma running a plucky third.

"I've had a few horses with these owners over the past five or six years but I have to admit I never expected anything like this to eventuate," grinned Picker.

"Yes, this is my first Group One and it is something I'll remember for a long, long time to come."

Owner-breeder Matt Nagle was just as overcome as Picker with the victory.

"I'm just stunned," he said.

"This is incredible, unexpected and much appreciated . . . this has been a wonderful experience and I hope there are more times like these to come."

 

Mandy Madern

 

 

8	4:39pm	HES WATCHING NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE FOUR-YEAR-OLD MARES FINAL (GROUP 1)	1609M
		$100,000 4YO Mares. PBD/M/PBD/C. Mobile	Results

Pl	Horse	Prize- money		Row & Br	TAB #	Trainer	Driver (C = Concession)	Mgn (m)	Starting odds	Stewards' Comments
1	ELLE YEAH			Fr1	1	Dennis Picker	Dennis Picker		$ 12.50	PRBT SWAB
	BROWN MARE 4 by ALWAYS A VIRGIN USA out of RUN AWAY ELLE (VILLAGE JASPER USA)  Owner(s): M T (Matthew) Nagle  Breeder(s): M T (Matthew) Nagle
2	CHERRY STRIDE			Fr4	4	KerryAnn Turner	Robert Morris	HD	$ 1.70 fav	PRBT GS L SWAB
3	ROCKNROLL EMMA			Fr7	7	Michael Formosa	Cameron Hart	7.40	$ 115.70	RAS SWAB
4	DONT THINK TWICE			Fr10	11	Jason Grimson	Jason Grimson	8.10	$ 6.00	PRBT RAS
5	MAKE MINE HEAVEN			Fr6	6	James Rattray	James Rattray	8.40	$ 43.20	RES
6	SHEZ SUGARSWEET			Fr9	9	Blake Fitzpatrick	Blake Fitzpatrick	9.10	$ 64.70	PRBT RAS
7	MILLION DOLLAR GEM			Fr3	3	Brett Woodhouse	Gavin Fitzpatrick	10.20	$ 22.50	PRBT
8	ROYAL STORY			Fr5	5	Bernie Hewitt	Bernie Hewitt	26.30	$ 13.90	3WE WF
9	RUBIES FOR TASH			Fr8	8	Bruce Harpley	Bruce Harpley	41.50	$ 32.40	PRBT GS
10	SHEZALLAPPLES			Fr2	2	David Thorn	Jim Douglass	42.80	$ 6.40	VXAR QUER

Scratchings
HIGH ROLLING	10
IM ALL COURAGE	12

Track Rating: GOOD		Gross Time: 1:52:2	Mile Rate: 1:52:2
First Quarter: 26.9	Second Quarter: 29.4	Third Quarter: 27.9	Fourth Quarter: 28
Margins: HD x 6.9m