KEY POINTS:
Explosive juvenile Yao has answered one question and will be asked to clear away another in tomorrow's $50,000 Sharp Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie.
The Hong Kong-owned giant 2-year-old declared his talent when he overcame a slow start to score a massive win on debut at Woodville on May 10.
The query he will have to put to rest in tomorrow's Listed Stakes race is how he can cope with rain-affected footing.
After Wednesday's heavy rain, the Ellerslie track was yesterday rated at 3.7 and soft.
The weather forecast suggests a few showers from Saturday morning, the net result if that is accurate should be a racing surface close, or perhaps even a little better, to the earlier reading.
Cambridge trainer Murray Baker said Yao would start provided the Ellerslie track did not worsen significantly.
"We've eventually got to find out whether he can handle a soft track so he'll take his place."
Yao was originally with Richard Yuill at Pukekohe and after a stylish barrier trial victory was bought by a Hong Kong client of Murray Baker's, Andy Chan.
It was originally intended that Yao would go to Hong Kong, but Chan decided instead to send the other horse he has in the Baker stable, a colt by Royal Academy.
Yao showed in winning at Woodville that he has a fair bit to learn and he should get better with racing.
The Woodville performance was stunning - he looked an impossible chance at the 600m when at least 10 lengths off the leaders, but when David Walsh pulled him to the outside early in the home straight he put paid to the others very quickly.
The son of first-season sire Choisir has a very long stride and he looks the one to beat if he can get it extended in the soft conditions.
Co-trainer Paddy Busuttin does not expect the soft track to be a deterrent to another stylish debut winner, Demhills.
The Golan youngster, also owned in Hong Kong, impressed winning at Te Rapa on April 28, despite having all favours in running.
The eye-catching aspect of that victory was the way Demhills put his head down and drove forward when Mark Du Plessis asked him to sprint.
"What he's done on rain-affected footing in training indicates he'll manage it on raceday," said Busuttin.
"He hasn't galloped on heavy footing though."
Like Yao, Demhills promises to be even better as a 3-year-old.
The five-week break from racing should be a benefit to Jacob.
He failed to reach the front when a well-beaten fourth at Tauranga last start and that was only a week after a tough run over 1600m when second to Valpolicella in the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie.
As the only three-race winner in the field he is well placed at level weights and should run out a strong 1400m.
The race is full of form. Russian Conquest, Prince Kaapstad, Keepabit, Vanny Fair and Floridita have all been impressive winners and Le Rendezvous made an impression finishing third to dead-heaters Keepabit and Russian Conquest after being checked in running.
This will be a fascinating contest.
Foal stakes
* The 1400m stakes race sees a wonderful depth of late-emerging talent.
* Cambridge pair Yao and Demhills were hugely impressive in making winning debuts.
* Both are Hong Kong-owned and look to have bright futures.
* There are at least five or six other strong winning chances.
