A Group 1 winner in his native South Africa, Yulong Prince (SAF) opened his Australian account at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day when he came with a barnstorming finish from last to claim the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m).
Making it three winners on the day for Nash Rawiller and Chris Waller, Yulong Prince (SAF) benefited from a solid pace set by Runaway to overcome a checkered passage in the straight to defeat Looks Like Elvis (All American) by a long-head with So You Win (So You Think) a nose back in third.
It was his first win since the Group 1 Greyville Daily News Two Thousand Stakes back in June last year when he was known as Surcharge.
“A nice cool ride by Nash Rawiller. It was good (owner) Mr Zhang from Yulong was here so it’s good to have the owners here on a such a big day, Flemington racing at its best,” Waller said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to see his property in China where there is no gambling aloud so it’s all funded by him and his friends and he has invested heavily in Australia so it’s good to see him get some success.
Yulong Prince’s sire Gimmethegreenlight is an Australian-bred son of More Than Ready (USA).
Winner of the Group 1 Kenilworth Queen's Plate Gimmethegreenlight is a half-brother to Group 1 ATC Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican.
Bred by David Bentata, Gimmethegreenlight was a $155,000 Magic Millions Weanling purchase from the Vinery Stud draft for Hassen Adams on the advice of bloodstock agent James Bester.
He was champion first season sire in 2015-2016 and currently leads the general sires list.
The dam of Yulong Prince, the Diktat mare Congestion Charge, is a three-quarter-sister to Group III Royal Ascot Queen's Vase Stakes winner Endorsement the dam of multiple Group III winner and multiple Group 1 placed More Wells (Sadler’s Wells).