MISSEN STABLES FIRING 18th February 2016 by Julie Maughan

Yap Yap Yomax greeted the judge with a handy win in the Mobile Sponsorship Now Available Pace (1609m) much to the relief of all connected with the pacer.

The Ultimate Falcon-Jacks Memory gelding has been a “handful” for trainer Tony Missen but after some perseverance and adding young reinsman Brendan James into the “recipe for success” the 7 yo has popped up with a winner.

“I love the horse” said James of Yap Yap Yomax. “He’s pretty good and I have to thank Tony (Missen) for giving me the drive”

“So far so good with him” added James of the horses win.

Tony Missen was relieved with the win of Yap Yap Yomax.

“Not before time” said Missen “he had to do four trials after his last misdemeanour. He has got the ability but if one gallops near him he goes out in sympathy with them. Brendan (James) has done a good job with him and drove him in all his trials”

For 24 year old Brendan James he tries to make the most of his limited drives as he concentrates on his career as a tiler with the winning drive behind Yap Yap Yomax producing the The Pub sponsored Drive of the Day.

“It panned out all right and he got an easy run” said James after the win “He flashed home down the straight and I was a little worried that the outside horse (Itz Platinum Plus) came back and got us but it wasn’t to be”

With Zippa Model (Lola Weidemann) leading the field James had Yap Yap Yomax three back on the pegs before switching three wide as the field turned into the home straight to come home and feature in a close finish by a head over Itz Platinum Plus (Len Simon) and Risky Business (Ricky Gordon) another head away third.

“I thought I was the winner at the top of the straight but Len (Simon) started pegging me back a bit and I wasn’t too sure I had won until the Stewards called me forward” added James.

“He got barred for a month and four trials and we got around all those safe and that’s when Tony decided to put me on to give him a go” added James of Yap Yap Yomax.

 “At the moment it is only a hobby as I work fulltime as a tiler and help out around the stables when I can” said James.

Punters would have been excited with the trifecta which paid over $1,000 with Yap Yap Yomax returning $9.20 for the win, Itz Platinum Plus $38.90 for second and Risky Buziness $5.20 for third.

In the second event for the day – the Old Boys Day 7^th April Pace – Missen had two runners engaged and came up with a training quinella.

Bayside Resort commenced from the enviable pole with Josh Osborn in the spider while Missen elected to take the reins himself behind stablemate Elboron from the seven barrier.

After leading all the way Bayside Resort had a 1 metre win over Elboron and Your Stalkin Me (Peter Hedges) another 3.6 metres away third.

“On paper it looked like he would find the lead” said Josh Osborn of Bayside Resort a 7 yo Speed King – Bayside Betty gelding.

‘He copped a bit of pressure in the race but he fought on and when I asked him to give a bit more he rallied” added the Hunter Valley reinsman.

“When I did go I thought he (Elboron) would be my main danger. He got close but not quite close enough” added Osborn.

Within the hour Tony MIssen had seen two wins come from his stable as well as a quinella.

 “I was hoping that would happen” added Missen “and the time was good”

Bayside Resort won the with a handy mile rate of 1.59.0 for 1609 metres.

The day continued on well for the stables when Idle Hands- who is trained by Missen’s son Dean Germon – won the Farrer Security Services Pace with Josh Osborn in the spider – granting Osborn a driving double for the day.

Julie Maughan