Swan Hill trainer Nathan Hobson has brought the Swan Hill Cup Carnival crowd to its feet with his horse Yulong Strom taking out the $150,000 Pooles Golden Topaz over 1200m this afternoon.
Just 12 months ago he had all but written the seven-year-old gelding off and he was mobbed on track as soon as Nyah West jockey Madison Lloyd steered the horse over the line.
Taking the horse’s career earnings to almost $350,000 with the $82,000 winner’s purse.
Hobson’s emotions were on show as he fought to keep control in post-race interviews.
“It means a lot, 12 months ago we thought this horse was finished but to the owner’s credit and perseverance we had to find what was wrong with him, and thank you to a lot of people along the way we did,” he explained.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling, especially with Madison (Lloyd) riding, she started with me (as an apprentice) and to come home and win a feature race, well, it means a hell of a lot.
“Yulong is back bigger and better than ever.”
Then Hobson stopped talking to crush Lloyd in a bearhug and plant a congratulatory kiss on her cheek.
Lloyd, made it back-to-back local wins, having taken out the previous race on Spanish Snitzel for Con Kelly – her first Swan Hill Cup Carnival winner.
Now she has one of the glamour races of the country calendar in her resumé.
“This is very, very special,” she agreed.
“This horse is also very special to me as he was my first winner at Flemington,” Lloyd added.
“And now to top it off for Nathan, because the Topaz is one of those races I have always dreamt of winning – and now I’ve done it for my old boss.
“I honestly can’t believe it, I can’t thank Nathan and all the connections enough.”
The Topaz made it three on the day for Swan Hill trainers, with Heath Chalmers winning the first of the day with Runpukya.
DON’T MISS A FULL WRAP OF THE THREE-DAY CARNIVAL IN TUESDAY’S THE GUARDIAN
