Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jye Mcneil holds high hopes for Yasuke after a debut win at Sandown.
The son of Maurice, sire of dual Derby winner Hitotsu, Yasuke took out the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Plate (1400m) on Wednesday.
Yasuke ($5) scored a three-quarter length win from the $4.80 equal favourite Magnupur with the other co-favourite Futile Resistance the same margin off third.
McNeil holds a healthy regard for Yasuke having ridden the three-year-old in a jump-out at Werribee prior to the colt’s debut outing.
“He jumped OK from an awkward draw and then I was posted on a steady tempo,” McNeil said.
“He had enough talent to make an ugly ride work out well.
“As a few of the Maurice horses that I have ridden do, they labour turning in but relish running through the line, which he did.
“He’s still learning his trade. I rode him at the Werribee jump-outs, and he improved from there to here and I would say it will be the same from his first start to his second start.
“The future is bright.”
Jo Taylor, in charge of the Waller stable in Melbourne, said she was not concerned when Yasuke was caught a wide in the run.
She said Yasuke possesses a good racing brain for a horse having his first start.
“He’s a nice horse,” Taylor said.
“We weren’t too concerned if he was going to be in amongst them as he’s not a horse that is intimidated by other horses.
“However, from the barrier we ended a bit wider than we would have liked, but Jye bided his time, and he pressed the button at the right time and got him to wind up nicely.
“We thought today was a nice starting point, but it really indicates he will be getting a mile and over 2000 metres and he is quite promising.”
