Chris Waller-trained gelding Yangtze Rapids broke through for his maiden win in fine style at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The son of Frankel’s first win has eluded him in his first seven starts, going down by narrow margins before his 2.8 length victory over 1550 metres.
Waller notified stewards of his intentions to lead on the gelding just prior to the start, with no noted pacemaker taking part in the event.
It was a smart move, with the three-year-old leading from post-to-post and looking comfortable in doing so.
Waller said the Queensland Derby is the plan for Yangtze Rapids.
“The Queensland Derby (is the plan). It obviously would’ve been nice for him to break through for his maiden win sooner, but he’ll go on with it and the further he goes, I think the better he’ll get,” he said.
“I think a better track was certainly the key to a better performance today. I’m sure that helps and helps a horse that we think is a pretty decent stayer.
“We’ll step him up in trip now and hopefully we get another good track next start.”
The change of tactics was pivotal in the win of Yangtze Rapids, with the track favouring leading horses as the meeting went on.
The three-year-old is usually ridden off the pace, but with no known leader in the field, Waller and jockey James McDonald’s tactics were to go forward.
McDonald said the three-year-old enjoyed being out front.
“He really enjoyed himself out there, obviously in an unfamiliar role of leading, but his ears were pricked, and he bowled along really well,” he said.
“He’s got a really high cruising speed. It was nice to use it today.
“I think he was just comfortable in a rhythm, these big horses around these tight turning tracks, when they’re back in the ruck they find it hard to navigate their way through smoothly.
“When they’re out in front they can put all their legs in the right places and accelerate.”
Waller has Imaging and Kolding racing in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. Imaging is an $18 chance, while Kolding is an equal fifth elect at $11 with tab.com.au.
