Up-and-coming three-year-old Yaletown has dictated throughout to win the Tulloch Stakes, earning his spot in the Australian Derby.
His sire won a Golden Slipper but Yaletown could prove to be Ms Gai Waterhouse’s first Australian Derby winner after staking his classic claims with a strong Tulloch Stakes victory.
Yaletown is by 2015 Slipper winner Vancouver but he is showing all the hallmarks of a promising stayer, dictating throughout to win his first middle-distance test in Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
The past four winners of the Tulloch have captured the Derby and co-trainer Adrian Bott confirmed Yaletown would be given the chance to become the fifth in a row.
“We really thought he’d excel stretching out to that trip today, so it was good to see him tick that off,” Bott said.
“Everything we’ve seen from him at home and in his career to date gave us the indication that he would (get further).
“Tim (Clark) was able to give him a lovely ride, he just got into a nice rhythm, a nice even tempo.
“He’s probably not the most brilliant in terms of turn of foot but he’ll keep giving for you all day.”
Yaletown ($4.80) had a half-length to spare on the line over Prompt Prodigy ($31) with Young Werther ($9) another long neck away.
Favreau and favourite Cherry Tortoni were unsuited by the slow tempo but both were doing their best work late and are set for a Derby rematch with the winner.
The G1 Australian Derby is one of the few features in Sydney to elude Waterhouse, and Bott confirmed the race was on their bucket list.
