Entered for the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas and Group I ATC Golden Rose, promising Smart Missile three year-old Yao Dash took another step forward when beating highly rated filly Funstar at Randwick on Saturday.
Prepared by Gai Wterhouse and Adrian Bott, Yao Dash defeated subsequent city winner Petronius when winning on debut at Canterbury last month and kept up the good work when leading all the way to win the 1300 metre Benchmark 72 event by half a length over Funstar, the half-sister by Adelaide (IRE) to Group I Queensland Oaks winner winner Youngstar.
Funstar lost her unbeaten record with this defeat, but will lose no admirers as she progresses towards longer races this spring.
Yao Dash was a modest $90,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dynamic Syndications from the Newhaven Park draft and has given his owners a dream start with two wins in as many starts with earnings in excess of $113,000.
“He’s given us a bit of thinking to do about the path forward,” Adrian Bott said.
“We wanted to see him take that next step today which he’s done.
Yao Dash looks a future stakes horse for his sire Smart Missile
“He’s got the nomination for it (Golden Rose), whether we take a more conservative path or whether we throw him in the deep end, that’s what we’ve got to decide in the next 48 hours.”
Yao Dash was bred by Newhaven Park and is the first winner for imported Rahy mare Rahy Storm (USA), who was a metropolitan winner in Australia and is closely related to US Group II winner Rahy’s Appeal.
Newhaven Park sold a yearling colt by Not a Single Doubt from Rahy Storm at Magic Millions this year for $160,000 and Rahy Storm is due to foal this spring to Spirit of Boom.
Yao Dash looks a bright prospect for Smart Missile, who was second in the 2011 Group I ATC Golden Rose. He stands at Twin Hills Stud at a fee of $22,000.
Smart Missile in upcoming sales:
