To paraphrase an Australian PM, how good is that 2017 Group II Prix Niel form working out?.
That day belonged to Frankel's 4-time Group 1 winner Cracksman who defeated Avilius (GB) and Finche (GB).
Not long after Avilius (GB) earned a third Group 1 win in the Optic White (George Main) Stakes (1600m), Finche (GB) broke his duck in Australia with a fighting win in the Group III Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Purchased privately in a deal brokered by Avenue Bloodstock, the French Group II and Group III winner made two starts in Australia last spring, finishing third in the Group III Geelong Cup before a fine fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Carrying the colours of his breeder, Prince Khalid Abdullah, who now shares ownership with some of Chris Waller's leading clients Neil Werrett, Peter Tighe and Frank and Christine Cook, Finche (GB) began his spring campaign with an eye-catching fifth in the Group II Chelmsford Stakes.
The
Melbourne Cup is on the agenda again for the striking chestnut son of Frankel after
he ran down the frontrunning Stampede (High Chaparral) by a long-neck with the
winners stablemate Carzoff (FR) (Zoffany) a length back in third. (images Steve
Hart). 
Winning trainer Chris Waller said it was a proud moment for him to win a race for one of the world's most successful owner/breeders.
He is a very good horse and it's a privilege to train for Price Khalid Abdullah and the team that have bought into him from Australia that are great supporters of mine. To see those colours winning here at Royal Randwick is pretty special and I still get excited by little things like that.
"Horses that have raced in those colours include Frankel Enable and Arrogate so to have them here at Randwick is a big coup.
"We will go home and map out a suitable plan (for the Melbourne Cup), he is a very talented horse and we look forward to getting him there.
The Juddmonte bred is a half-brother to five winners including the 4-time US Grade 1 winner and multiple European Group 1-placed Proviso (Dansili) and Byword (Peintre Celebre) the Champion Older Male Miler in France in 2010 whose 7 wins included the Group 1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales's Stakes.
