The emergence of rising Victorian star Yonce has come as no surprise to Cambridge horseman Ross McCarroll, who had been impressed by the daughter of Proisir from an early age.
McCarroll purchased her after she had failed to meet her reserve when offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2019 and subsequently trialled her before striking a deal to sell 50 percent to an Australian syndicate, which includes major owner Ozzie Kheir.
Yonce is unbeaten in five appearances for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace after posting her fifth victory at Flemington on Saturday and black type options now await the four-year-old.
“There’s some obvious races in Adelaide, but we need to have a look and see what’s up in Sydney,” Eustace said.
“She has got a good turn of foot and is very honest and just keeps progressing.”
Bred by the Melbourne-based pair of Lindsay de Souza and Todd Hartley, who also shared in the ownership of multiple Group One winner Turn Me Loose, Yonce didn’t reach her $30,000 reserve when offered by Woburn Farm at Karaka.
After being outbid at the sale on another youngster, McCarroll’s attention turned back to Yonce.
“I had looked at her and there was another one I was quite hot on, but it went for $52,000 so it did me a favour,” he said.
“After she was passed in, I got her after the 31 days and got a few friends in to race her.”
McCarroll, Shane McAlister, Stephen Kneebone and Lyn McMullan all remain in Yonce’s ownership group.
“Graham Marshall really instigated it because he wanted a share in a horse, but unfortunately in June of last year he died without seeing her race so it was transferred to his partner Lyn,” McCarroll said.
“I gave her quiet trials as a late two-year-old and a late three-year-old and we thought she was a top-liner and that’s why we stayed in.”
Shin soreness troubled Yonce as a younger horse and she then took a while to settle into her new Australian surroundings before she made her debut at Mornington last December.
Further successes followed at Sandown and Caulfield before consecutive Flemington victories over 1600m.
In her latest outing, Yonce settled midfield on the fence and pushed through an opening along the fence 300m from home before angling one off and powered away to score by three lengths.
“I was a bit worried on the turn, but she just seems to get herself out trouble,” Eustace said.
“I know she wasn’t a long way back, but she was in an awkward spot. She’s got a good turn of foot and she’s very honest.”
Yonce is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Ziva, who is out of the Gr.2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) winner Faith Hill.
Ziva is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Black Minx, dam of the dual Group Three winner and multiple Group One placegetter So Si Bon. Close relatives Global Exchange and Incredulous Dream have also been successful at black-type level in Australia.