Young Werther to chase Hill Stakes cash

Danny O’Brien has a $750,000 Group 1 at Young Werther’s favourite track he could direct the stable stalwart towards this Saturday, but the Flemington horseman will take the opportunity to chase the big bucks in Sydney.

The rejuvenated gelding will run in the Group 2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill, where the 1900-metre event will be run for $2 million.

Young Werther broke a 21-race run of outs that stretched back almost three years when he won at Flemington in July, which he backed up with victory at The Valley on September, and O’Brien is happy to give him a shot at the $1,155,000 winner’s cheque.

“The Hill Stakes is worth is $2 million and the Turnbull is only worth $750,000, so this is a good chance for him to be involved in a big prizemoney race,” O’Brien said.

It will be the first Turnbull Stakes meeting since 2019 that Young Werther has not been a participant, having been placed in the day’s signature event the past two years after finishing runner-up in the Super Impose Stakes for three-year-olds in 2020.

Young Werther has been nominated for the Turnbull Stakes as a precaution, but O’Brien’s plan is for ATC Australian Oaks winner El Patroness to be the stable’s representative in that event.

That five-year-old mare jumps straight up to 2000m after a first-up third placing to Western Australian sensation Amelia’s Jewel in the 1400m Let’s Elope Stakes on September 16 and O’Brien said the set-weights-and-penalties event would determine her spring path.

“The Turnbull usually defines whether or not you should be running in the Caulfield Cup,” O’Brien said.

“Most years it’s the best form race for the race and if she puts her hand up and runs super in the Turnbull I’d certainly have no problem running her in the Caulfield Cup.”

Leading Caulfield Cup fancies Soulcombe, Francesco Guardi and West Wind Blows accompany El Patroness among 29 nominations for the Turnbull Stakes.