The stylish Frankel gelding Yangtze Rapids booked his ticket to Brisbane for the Queensland Derby when he led home a Chris Waller 1-2-3 over 1550m at Canterbury on Wednesday.
It took eight starts for Yangtze Rapids to break his maiden, although he had teased a similar performance by placing in four of his starts.
Sent straight to the front by James McDonald, Yangtze Rapids had his six opponents off the bit by the time they rounded the home turn.
The Yulong Investments homebred kept up a strong gallop to defeat the Contributer (IRL) gelding Quiet Michael by two and three-quarter lengths with a further two and a half lengths back to the Lord Kanaloa (JPN) gelding Kahuka in third.
“I think a better track was the key for a better performance today,” Waller said.
“A nice ride helped. We think he is a nice stayer and we will step him up in distance and hopefully get another good track next start.
“The Yulong crew are good to train for. They listen and have been patient with them, and another by Frankel so it has been a good few days for them.
“We have the Queensland Derby in mind for him. It would have been nice to get the maiden a bit sooner, but he will go on with it and the further he goes the better he will get,”
Consigned by Segenhoe Stud to the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Yangtze Rapids left the ring unsold when failing to make his $300,000 reserve.
Yangtze Rapids is the first foal of the unraced Bushranger (Danetime) mare Kahara River (IRE) who was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock / Yulong Investments for 55,000gns out of the Castlebridge Consignment at the 2016 Tattersalls July Sale.
Kahara River (IRE) is a half-sister to the Group III Prix Eclipse winner Perugina (Highest Honor) and the stakes-placed Sovana (Desert King) the dam of Group III winner and Group 1 placed Topeka, Group III winner Kalsa and Group III winner and Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes runner-up Bocca Baciata.
Kahara River (IRE) has a yearling colt by Savabeel who was purchased by Colin Scott Racing for $50,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After foaling a colt by Grunt last spring, Kahara River (IRE) was covered by Alabama Express.
Kahara River (IRE) was reported as sold to E Koh for $350,000 2017 Inglis Chairman’s Sale when carrying Yangtze Rapids.
It has been a profitable few days for Frankel. He had a stakes double at Randwick on Saturday led by the Yulong homebred Hungry Heart in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks.
