By Mike Love
Nearly two years after making his debut Verducci broke his maiden status at start number 29 at Methven yesterday.
The six-year-old Sportswriter gelding took out the Mt Hutt Motels Mobile Pace for West Melton trainer-driver Jessica Young-Grant, after placing eight times previously. It was Young-Grant’s 128th success in the sulky and her third as a trainer.
“It was a good win. He’s been an enigma. He’s a super track worker,” said Young-Grant.
Young-Grant said her expectations had been set high early in the gelding’s career.
“When he ran second in his first start I thought ‘shit we’re going to win one soon.’ But here we are 29 starts later,” she said.
In what was an eventful race with She’s A Major Act and Ideal Conqueror playing cat and mouse on a fast tempo, the race was set up for a swooper. Young-Grant was able to watch everything unfold from back in the field. Verducci was checked at the 400 metres, and was in fact in a gallop dead last at the top of the straight. Young-Grant and Verducci quickly recovered to get a roll on with a huge run to pick them up and win by half a length at the line.
“It’s always a good run when they come from last,” Young-Grant said.
Young-Grant said she has persevered with the gelding.
“He wouldn’t be around in most other stables,” she said.
Recent form had given some encouragement.
“He was a bit unlucky at Addington two starts ago. But even so we were more hopeful than confident today,” Young-Grant said.
Verducci is out of Roxy Bromac, a mare that Young-Grant drove to seven wins.
“She was such a little darling. I was a junior then. She kinda got me on the map as a driver. She had speed. She could win from anywhere and tried so hard,” Young-Grant said.
