YIMOU followed up his win at Newbury last month with another victory at Yarmouth this afternoon, landing the odds in a four-runner affair under Martin Dwyer.
The 4yo son of Kodiac, having just his fourth career start was sent off the 5/6 jolly in only his second race over 6f. While two horses from the yard were pulled out at Haydock today because the ground had become too quick, Yimou relished the Good To Firm at Yarmouth and he made all as he did last time out.
There was drama at the start when Hart Stopper’s saddle slipped which meant he was always behind the other three runners who were in Indian file for the first half of the contest. A furlong and a half from home, Promote served it up to Yimou but she couldn’t go past the gelding who really battled on and was a cosy length up at the finish.
This was another good performance from the Andrew Cohen-owned Yimou for whom the drop down to sprinting distances has worked a treat. Congratulations to Andrew, whose charge will undoubtedly go up again in the handicap but he has the profile of an improver.
The bay gelding is looking a bargain, having been purchased for just 18,000 guineas at Doncaster in November 2017 as a 2yo. He originally cost 170,000 guineas and was owned by Princess Haya of Jordan but never ran for trainer, John Gosden. He may not be the new Tropics but he looks to have a future.
This was the stable’s fourth winner this month and puts Harper Lodge Farm on 32 wins for the year and past the £1/4 million prize money barrier. Last year, the yard had 30 wins on the board by the end of October and finished with a joint-record 39 wins, so providing the horses stay healthy, it’s on target to achieve the best ever total.