Durable stayer Yogi completed a seamless transition from one to stable to another with a first-up win at Caulfield on Saturday.
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Last year's Sandown Cup winner for the once all-conquering Darren Weir yard, Yogi had in the previous few days transferred to the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who are in the process taking over Weir’s Forest Lodge stables in Ballarat.
The switch came after Weir was banned for four years.
Having his first run since November, Yogi overcame a slow start in The Big Screen Company Handicap, 1800m, before powering away to a strong win.
Long-term Weir client Darren Dance, from the Ballan-based Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, was high in praise for the way Forest Lodge Racing handled the placement of horses after the trainer was issued with a show cause notice on January 31.
"It was a credit to Darren Weir and the rest of the team who were prepared to talk to Ciaron Maher about where he (Yogi) was at and what should happen.
"I can't thank Forest Lodge enough for what they've done and we're off to a good start with our first ever runner for Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace."
Dance said he had been receiving information from Forest Lodge that Yogi was going better than at the same stage last preparation.
The Sydney Cup is Yogi's long-term autumn goal.
BOOM sprinter Nature Strip was another Weir-trained runner to salute at Caulfield.
He outclassed his rivals in the group 2 $200,000 Rubiton Stakes, 1100m, in his first start for Chris Waller.
Nature Strip (1.75 favourite) was having his first since the spring.
Waller's Melbourne stable foreperson Jo Taylor said Nature Strip had done everything right in the short time he has been at Flemington and she was suitably impressed by Saturday's performance.
"He's an absolute gentleman," Taylor said.
"He hasn't put a foot wrong since he's arrived in the stable.
"It was fantastic to see him do this today and produce what we know is a class performance that he's capable of producing.
"Now we've got something to build on and we know what we're dealing with as well."