Young Werther to head to the Turnbull Stakes

After a debut win at Geelong, it took Young Werther another 22 starts to win for the second time.

Success in the Quayclean Handicap (2000m) on Saturday was Young Werther’s fifth from a career now spanning 34 starts, prompting Danny O’Brien to quip the gelding is getting better with age.

“He was always a little backward horse as a three and four-year-old,” O’Brien said.

“His last two Winters have been in Brisbane, and he’s come back both times really, really well.

“I think he’s probably going to go to a better level again this Spring and he only needs to find a length or two to win a nice race. He’s been around the mark in a quite a few decent Group Ones.”

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 5 is likely to be Young Werther’s next assignment, a race he has run second and third in previously.

“He doesn’t get the penalty, and he’s got a great record at Flemington over the 2000 (metres), so we’ll use that to see where he goes to from there,” O’Brien said.

“We’ve always stayed away from Caulfield because he’s never really gone well here but he’s obviously won today so there’s a chance he could go from the Turnbull into the Caulfield Cup.”