Young Werther being readied for the Australian Cup

Young Werther is not your normal racehorse.

While most horses enjoy time in the paddock, Young Werther is more comfortable with stable life.

Trainer Danny O’Brien revealed Young Werther has been in the stable since his last start second in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) in December.

O’Brien said Young Werther was going to be turned out in the paddock for some R and R, but after one day was back in the stable.

“He’s a horse that hates going for a spell,” O’Brien said.

“We put him out on the day after the Ballarat Cup, and he sulked by the gate all day, so we brought him in that night.

“We’ve been able to break him in to go out during the day for a few hours and then coming back into the barn.

“Once he realised, he was coming in each night, he was happy to go out into the paddock, but he didn’t want to spend the whole night out there.

“So, he’s been in work since the Ballarat Cup and hasn’t had a break.”

Young Werther is being readied for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington at the end of March and part of his program towards that race will be a first-up run in the Group 3 T S Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The gelding has pleased O’Brien ahead of his return and closed off nicely in a 1200m barrier trial behind Sparkle at Geelong last Tuesday.

“He had a trial at Geelong on Tuesday and he’s in good shape and will run in the Carlyon Cup and then head towards the Australian Cup,” O’Brien said.

“He was very unlucky in the Mackinnon (Champion Stakes). He should have nearly won, so it’s all about the Australian Cup for him.”

O’Brien is also happy with how Sparkle is coming to hand after missing the majority of the spring.

“She didn’t come up in the spring. It was very much hormonal, I think, so we gave her the spring out,” O’Brien said.

“She looked like she trialled well, and we’ll be back with her soon.”