Hello Youmzain debutante delights

Our wait for Hey Dana’s first appearance at the races proved worthwhile when she made the perfect start to her career at Avondale.

The homebred filly stepped out over 1200 metres and produced a professional display to score a comfortable victory in the hands of Warren Kennedy.

She is by our shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain, whose daughters Yousito and Shiniqua also combined for a one-two finish in the race following Hey Dana’s debut success.

“We’ve always thought a bit of her at home and she’s quite a big filly who is still learning,” trainer Lance Noble said.

“She has needed the extra time just to grow into herself really, I thought she may have needed a run to figure it all out, trials are different to races, so to do that is very encouraging.”

Off the back of two lead-up trials, Hey Dana bounced out of the gates to settle close to the pace and rounded off strongly in the closing 300 metres.

“We think she will go over a bit more ground and Warren said afterwards that for a filly to do that over 1200 metres is a very good sign,” Noble said.

“She got into a good position and there was enough speed for her to get her toe into the race.

“It’s a beautiful surface at Avondale and it all panned out for her and couldn’t be happier.”

Hey Dana is a daughter of the Dehere mare Danahere, who is a half-sister to the G2 Matriarch Stakes winner Oceanex and the G3 Rough Habit late winner Amexed.

Purchased at an Inglis Broodmare Sale for A$135,000, five of Danahere’s foals have been successful, including St Patrick’s Day who was a winner at Listed level, and she also has a yearling colt by Sword Of State.

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