Howley, formerly of Shepparton, watched on last Wednesday as Yahoo Bar ($2.30) fizzed past the post in first at Sandown to pocket a healthy $55,000 prize.
It was a powerful yet casual burst to the line for the three-year-old gelding as he hit his stride in the 1400m race, leaving Following Sea in the dust with 200 metres left to satisfy a quietly confident Howley.
After finishing runner-up on debut at Seymour late last year, seeing Yahoo Bar clinch victory on Wednesday was a precious moment for the local-born trainer.
“It was probably a blessing in disguise getting beat at Seymour; I thought he’d go to Seymour and win but got caught wide,” Howley said.
“He was probably entitled to put the white flag up, and I think a lot of younger horses would’ve put the white flag up the way he got bumped around in the straight.
“He toughed it out and it gave him good confidence to push forward, go to town and get the job done.
“He just did it so comfortably (at Sandown). His trackwork has been spot on.
“We were pretty confident internally, but they’ve got to go and do it so it was pleasing to see him take it to the track.”
Howley said he was rapt with the progress of his most recent winner to date.
Yahoo Bar, the full brother of fellow Liam Howley Racing rocket Station One, has been an easier raise than his sibling, but one clear similarity remains - finishing power.
“He had a lot more maturity from day one than what Station One had, so he’s been a bit of an easier model, I won’t lie,” Howley said.
“They look very similar - big action, huge capacity, they can just cruise at a really good speed.
“Station One’s best asset is his ability to cruise along at a really strong tempo and then kick off it when it matters.
“This bloke is very similar in that he can cruise at a good tempo and then a really nice turn of foot that lengthens.
“He just does it so well, and that’s the asset of the two of them is when they really let go, they do it effortlessly.”
Howley said he expects possible interest from Hong Kong following Yahoo Bar’s strong run at Sandown, but has designs for his future as a 2000m specialist.
For now, he’ll continue to work and rest the son of Toronado appropriately as the Liam Howley Racing operation shifts from Kyneton to Macedon Lodge.
“It gives us flexibility, I guess you’d say the horses want for nothing - some horses are suited by the farm life, others are suited by the on-course life,” Howley said.
“A horse like Yahoo Bar, he does his fast work up at Kyneton and then he comes straight back to the farm and does his slow work here up the hill.
“It’s a good fit, (there are) beautiful facilities in both places and the staff love it, that’s for sure.”
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