When Ballarat trainer Patrick Kearney spotted Yellowbrick Road for sale on the Inglis Digital sale, he used the inside knowledge from one of his best friends Ollie Sangster as to whether he should purchase him.

Kearney and Sangster both worked in the stables of English trainer Hugo Palmer at the same time and became best friends.

Both are 26 years old and have taken up training at the same time and keep in touch regarding their careers.

Sangster, who is Adam Sangster’s nephew, bred Yellowbrick Road, who is by former champion racehorse Golden Horn.

“I shot it through to Ollie and asked him ‘what do you think?’ He told me he had the ability as a young horse, but he had lost his way in Australia; it’s probably a risk but it’s one worth taking,” Kearney said.

After winning his debut at Kempton Park, Yellowbrick Road was purchased by an Australian syndicate and had seven starts with a best result of a second in a Benalla maiden.

Kearney then purchased Yellowbrick Road for $8000 and set about trying to turn around the form of a horse who had been prepared by one of Australia’s best stables in Anthony and Sam Freedman.

So how do you set about improving a cast off from the stable that trained the winner of this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cup?

“I do nothing with him. We give him lots of cuddles and carrots and let him do the rest,” Kearney said. 

Yellowbrick Road has had three starts for his new stable with a win at Bendigo in a Benchmark 58 over 1600 metres at his debut. He has then finished third in the Mortlake Cup and second in the Ararat Cup.

Kearney considered starting Yellowbrick Road in the Country Cup final over 2000 metres at Caulfield last week but he wanted to start him over a longer trip which is what he will do on Saturday

Yellowbrick Road will contest the Rhino The Wrecker (2500m) and will be ridden by Rhys McLeod.

“I think he’ll be running very well. He’s out to a suitable distance and he’ll be strong to the line. I think he’s got bigger and better things,” Kearney said.

“I think he wants further and we’ll make a plan to get him out over more ground as it will be the further the better for him.

“The obvious dream is to be a Melbourne Cup runner; that’s why he came here so who is to say we can’t have a crack?”

Kearney’s other runner on Saturday is last start Geelong winner Jackand, who will start in the Penshurst Cup.