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Progressive mare Changing Colours continued her remarkable rise through the grades with a deserved breakthrough at black-type level in Sunday’s Group 2 $300,000 Ladbrokes Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield, handing trainer Lucy Yeomans her first Group 2 success and putting lucrative spring targets firmly on the agenda.
The six-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun justified her strong support in betting, overcoming a quality field under Blake Shinn to defeat the $2.15 favourite Sass Appeal by a length, with Too Darn Discreet another 1¼ lengths away in third.
Stopping the clock in 1:36.41, Changing Colours secured the biggest victory of her career and continued a campaign that has seen her steadily climb through the benchmark ranks into stakes company.
Dream Result for Yeomans
An emotional Yeomans admitted the victory represented the type of success every trainer dreams about.
“It’s incredible. These are the things you dream about, and we get out of bed for this horse,” the Cranbourne-based trainer said after the win.
“She’s our one that is keeping the team alive at the moment as we’ve got all unraced horses. To have her as leading the way is really special.
“Group 2 winning trainer, sounds quite nice, doesn’t it?”
The young trainer was quick to praise her stable staff and the mare who has become the flagbearer of the operation.
“Full credit to the team at home. We’re a small team but we’re all good mates and we work really hard,” she added.
“To win a race like this with Blake aboard. He rode our first winner and now he’s ridden our first Group winner.”
Yeomans said the mare arrived at Caulfield in peak condition and delivered exactly what the stable had hoped for.
“I can’t thank this horse, Tippy, enough. She’s so kind,” she said.
“We try and have our horses happy, healthy and this mare had a bit of swag about her today. She knows she’s good at the moment.
“She came here spot on today. There is not a thing wrong with her.”
Toorak Handicap and Empire Rose Stakes Under Consideration
Having secured valuable Group 2 status, Changing Colours now finds herself in contention for much bigger spring prizes.
The Group 1 $1 million Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield Guineas Day on October 10 remains under consideration, while the Group 1 $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, October 31, shapes as another attractive target.
“She’s a Group 2 winner now, which is wild,” Yeomans said.
“Could be the Empire Rose and we dreamed of a Toorak.
“She’s also a Magic Millions horse so there are options at the end of the year up in Queensland (next summer).
“We’ll let the dust settle. She owes us nothing and if she’s a bit tired and doesn’t want to keep on with it tomorrow, we’ll send her to the paddock.”
The trainer remained appreciative of the support she has received from within the racing industry during the mare’s rise.
“I feel really grateful for the team around me and to have Blake by my side,” she said.
“In the trainers’ room, I didn’t make a peep when watching it and they all applauded. Everyone has been so supportive and grateful and kind.”
Shinn Sees Group 1 Potential
Winning rider Shinn was equally thrilled with the result, highlighting both the mare’s development and Yeomans’ training performance.
“This is all about Lucy and forging her own business as a trainer,” he said.
“To get her first Group 2 win on the board here is really special and we just have to thank the ownership group.
“To pull this win off today is like winning a Group One for us, honestly.”
Shinn believes the mare’s rise from a mid-grade handicapper to a stakes winner is a credit to her trainer.
“We got her as a 73-rater and now we’ve taken her to a Group 2 Stocks Stakes,” he added.
“Just shows how good a trainer Lucy is and is going to be.
“I’m just so proud of her and the horse and the team.
“It is very, very special.”
The champion jockey also suggested Sunday’s performance proved Changing Colours deserved her chance at the elite level.
“I said to Lucy earlier in the week that if she could win today, honestly have to look at races like the Toorak, the Empire Rose,” he said.
“We weren’t getting ahead of ourselves but in my mind I thought she was up to today but we had to see her do it.”
Empire Rose Market Reacts
Bookmakers were quick to respond to the mare’s breakthrough stakes success.
Following the Stocks Stakes victory, Ladbrokes shortened Changing Colours’ 2026 Empire Rose Stakes odds from $15 into $11, elevating her among the leading chances for the Flemington feature.
Empire Rose Stakes 2026 Odds
| 1. Autumn Glow | ||
| 2. Pride Of Jenni | ||
| 3. Sheza Alibi | ||
| 4. Idle Flyer | ||
| 5. Changing Colours |
Meanwhile, the Toorak Handicap remains firmly on the radar, where she is currently rated a $15 chance to win in futures betting at Ladbrokes.
With seven wins and seven placings from 20 starts, Changing Colours has become one of the spring’s emerging mares. Whether she heads to the Toorak Handicap first or is saved for the Empire Rose Stakes, Sunday’s Stocks Stakes triumph suggests the exciting mare is more than capable of measuring up in Group 1 company.
