Orphaned as a foal, Forever Yin isn't letting a rough start to life hold him back.
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Instead the two-year-old put in a tough effort to take out a Vicbred Super Series semi-final at Melton on Saturday night.
Qualifying for the group one final next week, Forever Yin just held off the fast-finishing Mirragon to win by a short half head.
Reinsman Blake Jones was thrilled with his performance after drawing wide on the second row.
"I was pretty stoked about it," Jones said.
"He's only missed a cheque in that first start and has got that little bit better every time he goes around.
"He's still a bit green and wandered around the last corner and got a little bit lost when he when straightened up and a had horse coming at him he knuckled down pretty good."
It also presented Jones with a great early 30th birthday present.
Trained by his partner Ellen Bartley, Forever Yin has now won three of 10 starts.
The Coleambally reinsman rated it one of his bigger wins.
"It's pretty good as it's him and we've had such a battle getting him to this stage and have had to do everything with him," Jones said.
"For Ellen I'd say it would be her best for sure and for me it's pretty close.
"Hopefully next week we can say it would be for sure."
Forever Yin has drawn to start in gate six for the $130,000 final on Saturday.
It's another tricky draw, but Jones is hopeful it pans out alright.
"He doesn't not have gate speed but his manners are a bit better if you don't use him at the start and let him relax and get into a rhythm," he said.
"It's not a big deal but of course I'd have liked to have drawn a nice two or three, even nine on the back row would have been lovely but a lot of the main dangers have drawn out the back which helps us a little bit."
The Johnson family from The Rock also tasted success at Melton with two-year-old filly Maajida winning her semi-final.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere made it three wins from four starts for Emma Stewart, after a second on debut.
She has drawn 13 for the final.
Riverina connections didn't have as much success on NSW Breeders Challenge day at Menangle on Sunday.
Meanwhile Leeton horseman Wayne Sullivan trained the card on his home track on Saturday night.
Sullivan took out the opening two races with three-year-olds Cee Cee Armbo and Tactical Response before heavy rain saw the remainder of the meeting abandoned.
Leeton races again on Tuesday night.
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