Wagin Cup Presentations Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
David Young and Robert Dowers partnership in horses goes back over a decade, but on Thursday they experienced cup glory with The Wildcard taking home the $11,000 Palace Hotel Wagin Cup in a thrilling finish.
Driven by Emily Suvaljko, The Wildcard started as the $1.55 favourite in the feature, with the five-year-old able to lead from start to stop, with just a half-neck margin between Highly Flammable and the double westbred son of Fly Like An Eagle.
Young has a history with the horse, being a breaker and educator, The Wildcard had been in his stable once before, and with Young having an opinion of the gelding, he jumped at the opportunity to purchase on behalf of Dower when the opportunity presented itself.
“I broke him in along with two others for Quadrio (Shane) and always liked him, and one day he mentioned he might sell him, so I told Tex (Robert Dower) to buy him.”
“I figured out after the second track run he had some issues, which I was lucky enough to be able to rectify and the rest is history.”
A partnership and eventual friendship that eventuated by chance, its one that Young is extremely thankful for, with Young making mention that the two are now lifelong friends and wishes everyone could have a client like Tex.
“It started when he rang mum and dad about claiming a horse for him that was going to Adelaide called Jacobs Well, and then they claimed Tuapeka Tiz and he got to stay with me for a month,
“He ran second on a Friday Night before he went to South Australia.”
“Then he bought Disco Invasion, but we always said we’d try and have a better one each time.”
The pair have certainly developed and have had quite a few handy ones in the stable, including The Marble Ridge, Baylan Jett, Alfredi, as well as the in-form head turner, Showpony.
“Overall, we’ve had a great association.”
“There's probably been times I’ve been ready to throw it in and it’s been because of Rob I’ve kept going.”
The pair have a new racing prospect ready to hit the track, with Dower recently purchasing Indomitable Symbol.
The lightly raced four-year-old has had just the 9 starts for 3 wins and 3 placings including a last start win at Pinjarra back in November 2023 for Greg and Skye Bond and enters Young’s stable as a level 5.
Showpony has now had 10 starts since entering Youngs stable, with four wins including a metropolitan victory at Gloucester Park in mid-January.
The five-year-old was a late scratching on March 15, but resumes on Monday at Pinjarra from barrier six in the $11,000 Charles Hull Contracting Pinjarra Easter Cup (2185m) set to jump at 3.48pm WST.
