Horse racing trainer's 'cheeky' request to billionaire as dramatic photo goes viral
A trainer who bravely tried to flag down a loose horse has made a cheeky request to her billionaire owner.
Amy Yargi juggles jobs running her stable, with husband Ash, with a role as the mounting yard analyst for TV station Racing.com. She was broadcasting at Moonee Valley on Tuesday when the track hosted its annual ‘Breakfast with the Best’ event.
The occasion provides the public with a chance to see some of the key contenders for the £2.5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate, ’s biggest weight-for-age race, take part in exhibition gallops under their big race riders. Champion trainer Chris Waller was there to see leading jockey James McDonald partner Via Sistina in what was supposed to be a routine workout.
Via Sistina, previously trained in Britain by George Boughey, has won three top level races since moving to Australia in the wake of her £2.8m sale to Yu Long Investments in December last year.
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But her gallop did not go to plan as She then carried on riderless and completed two further circuits before she was finally caught.
Yargi was among those who tried valiantly to persuade Via Sistina, who had tripped when some of her gear came loose, to pull up, standing right in the path of the horse, which made for a dramatic photograph which has now gone viral.
“It was quite a scary situation because she was galloping and had that look in her eyes that she was not stopping for anything so I was really concerned for her welfare,” she told “The Waller team had gone down to try to form a line of five and everyone got out of the way when they could see she wasn’t going to stop. I decided to go after the winning post and see if I could baulk her a little.
“It’s quite a funny photo. I didn’t expect it to get any traction. I was just doing what any horseman or horsewoman would do when you see a loose horse.”
Yargi went on, “I got out of the way, don’t worry! I jumped in front of her, waved my arms around and shouted at her, but she wasn’t stopping for anyone so I got out of the way in a safe time.
“I wasn’t going to do anything silly and get myself injured but the photo looks quite impressive.”
The Yargis, who have a stable of 20, recorded their biggest win in 2023 when Rebel Racer won the Group 2 Adelaide Cup. Amy could not resist an opportunity to reach out to Yulong’s Chinese billionaire owner Yueshang Zhang to offer her training services.
She posted a message on X, above the picture, “Dear Mr Zhang. This is how committed I am to Any chance of please sending me a horse to train? Warm Regards, Amy.”
Yargi explained: “I’ve got a good sense of humour and thought why not? We do a good job with our horses and if you don’t ask you don’t get. The reaction to it has been quite fun with so many people laughing and enjoying the banter.
“Like any trainer anywhere in the you need nice horses. It might be a little bit cheeky to chuck it out there.
“I’ve done a good deed, tried my best. Imagine if it actually eventuated? It was just a bit of tongue in cheek but also I wouldn’t say no.”