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Source: Racing.com, by Andrew Eddy.
31 October, 2020
Chris Waller won his fourth Kennedy Cantala and collected his second Group 1 winner for the day when the South African-bred Yulong Prince stormed home late to grab the $1.5 million race on Saturday at Flemington.
The victory recorded the first G1 win in Australia for Yulong’s owner Yuesheng Zhang after several seasons racing horses Down Under.
Damian Lane was the rider of the winner and he later explained that he felt he was on the right horse turning for home but then as the post came near, he heard a most familiar voice.
“He didn’t step that great so from there I did need some tempo and with the nice tracking he really let rip off that tempo,” Lane said.
“I got to the front quite early, too, and I could hear (Damien Oliver aboard Cascadian) Ollie’s yelling. His very distinctive voice coming from behind.
“Normally once you hear it he gets you but it was good that he (Yulong Prince) knuckled down and fought it out for the win. I got a rare one up on him there.
“I’m thrilled to get that win for Chris Waller and the team. Jo Taylor, who works with the horses here, I do a bit of work with the team. It’s good to get these up.”
Taylor said she was delighted for Zhang to finally taste G1 success in Australia.
“It’s a Group 1 for Yulong and Mr Zhang and it’s just fantastic to get that on the board,” she said.
“Mr Zhang is investing so much money in racing. He’s a big supporter of ours, not just us, but racing in Australia. They’re deserving of these big results.”
As for the boss, who recorded his 13th G1 win over Melbourne Cup Week: “You can’t say enough about Chris Waller and the way he manages these horses and their careers. He’s certainly a cut above the rest.”
Yulong Prince’s only Australian win prior to Saturday came 12 months ago when he won the Listed Cup Day Plate but he could win another G1 before the end of the year as Waller has entered him for the Hong Kong Mile at the international meeting on December 13.
Waller, who earlier won the Coolmore Stud Stakes with filly September Run, had previously won the Kennedy Cantala with Albert The Fat (2011), Boban (2013) and Shillelagh in 2017.