That ability to change gears on cue and to do so with such meaning was the major contributing factor to Yao Dash being able to claim the third win of his career in the Magic Millions Rising Stars Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Colts, Geldings & Entires Class 4 Plate.

Halfway up the straight, with seven runners spread across the track, you would have been happy to take the bet that the contest would be decided in a blanket finish, but once Nash Rawiller asked Yao Dash to go, the son of Smart Missile quickly put the matter beyond doubt, speeding home in impressive fashion.

“He has always promised to be a very good horse,” said co-trainer Adrian Bott. “He had a start in the Golden Rose (where he finished fourth behind Bivouac back in September 2019) so I think that shows the opinion we have had of his ability.

“It has taken a little bit of time to recapture that. He can be a little bit of a thinker at times … and I think Nash (Rawiller) kept him interested here.

“We thought if he has something to chase there today, he’d let down strongly and he did that well.

“We thought that was the key … to get a nice run in behind and let the race unfold. Fortunately, it worked into our hands.

“He will back up next week.”

Yao Dash was also Nash Rawiller’s second winner of the meeting … the rider having scored earlier with Animate.