THE stable is impressed with the pace shown by Yakeen (AUS), who won first time out over 1400m at the Vaal on Thursday, racing in the hands of Callan Murray.

Bought for Mike de Kock by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in Melbourne in 2016, Yakeen is a son of the freak Irish star Teofilio (Galileo), who was undefeated in his only five career starts, won two Gr1s and was named European Champion Two-Year-Old in 2006.

Teofilio was at his best over this trip, but Mike said on Friday: ‘Yakeen looks like a horse for more ground, he has an Oaks winner in his second dam so is bred for further. That he shows the kind of pace he does is encouraging.”