DAY OF CHAMPIONS FOR YULONG

China outfit bags two of four Randwick Gls with Treasurethe Moment and Via Sistina

- Michael Lee

Widely expected to take home at least two of the four Group 1s at the second day of The Championships at Randwick on April 12, the all-conquering Yulong Racing stable did just that with two of Australia's best horses - Via Sistina and Treasurethe Moment.

Both lived up to their short-priced favouritism in their respective contests: Treasurethe Moment ($7) in the A$1 million (S$825,000) Australian Oaks (2,400m) and Via Sistina ($8) in the A$5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m), but not without giving their supporters some anxious moments.

The race shape ran counter to their usual patterns, especially for Treasurethe Moment, whose bid to become the 16th filly to do the VRC Oaks/Australian Oaks double and first since Serenade Rose in 2006 looked up in smoke upon straightening up.

The daughter of Alabama Express stalked up in a perfect one-out one-back position for regular partner Damian Lane, but the alarm bells were ringing wild with the cheap sectionals that 50-1 smokie Sun 'N' Sand (Alysha Collett) was pinching up front.