By Mike Dillon
If Yangtze River wins the $250,000 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on Saturday, immediately ring an Australian bookmaker and back her to win the Caulfield Cup.
Yangtze River is smart enough to offer Nahayan real opposition on Saturday, but trainer Stephen Autridge believes she's only half the horse she's going to be later in the year.
Like most Zabeels, Yangtze River will improve lengths between three and four, says Autridge.
She is even improving with each race in this campaign.
Yangtze River raced a bit one-paced against the best fillies at the Auckland Cup carnival, but could not have been more impressive dashing past the leaders to score untested at Te Rapa 10 days ago.
"She's come through that race in absolutely stunning shape and worked terrifically well this morning," said Autridge yesterday.
Autridge has had to be patient with Yangtze River, a problem filly in the barriers last season.
"I had to give her trials with jumps jockeys aboard to get her to settle and she's finally come right in that department. In fact she's perfect now."
The filly's dash at the end of the Te Rapa race left little doubt the 2400m on Saturday will suit perfectly.
The Oaks performance will determine the remainder of Yangtze River's 3-year-old racing.
"I don't want her to have too tough an autumn campaign, but if she wins on Saturday I guess we'd have top go for the AJC Oaks in Sydney.
"If she doesn't win, there is the Oaks in Adelaide or perhaps the Brisbane winter carnival.
"We'll worry about that after the weekend."
Yangtze River will be ridden by Opie Bosson, who chose the ride over Savannah Success, the stakes-winning filly under Damien Oliver on the final day of the Ellerslie carnival.
But while she looms as the clear second favourite in the classic, there has been no support for Yangtze River in the TAB book.
Nahayan has been by far the best backed filly, with two bets on her yesterday to win $10,000 each time.
"That is a significant bet for this stage of a market," said a TAB fixed odds spokesman yesterday.
The support for Nahayan has seen her odds shorten to $1.70, almost certainly less than she will be paying on Saturday.
Savannah Success' fine recent form has seen her posted a clear third favourite at $12, ahead of Dancing Daze and No Alimony, with two of Paul O'Sullivan's trio of representatives - Soap Opera and Pravda, next on $18.
Horse Racing: Yangtze River the danger to Oaks favourite
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