Yeats is poetry in motion in Goodwood Cup
The race was as good as over once Mick Kinane took the Aidan O’Brien-trained five-year-old to the front two furlongs out.
The 10-11 shot went on to trot up by five lengths from Frankie Dettori on Geordieland (16-1), with Tungsten Strike (25-1) three and a half lengths away in third.
Seb Sanders rousted Foreign Affairs along to set the pace in the Group Two heat over two miles but although he led into the straight, he soon gave way as Yeats made smooth progress on the outside.
He soon stamped his authority on the race and powered away from his rivals to follow up his easy win in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Dettori tried to close the gap on Geordieland but to no avail as Tungsten Strike battled away for minor honours.
Sergeant Cecil, who was shuffled back just before the turn for home, stayed on in good style for fourth place.
O’Brien told BBC Sport: “We saw how easy he won at Ascot and obviously there were a few different questions to answer today.
“Mick hadn’t ridden him since he won his maiden at two and it was a different track today so all those things you have to take into consideration.
“Mick said he was very impressed with him and he’s a Coronation Cup winner so obviously he isn’t short of class. He also won a Derrinstown Derby Trial at three.
“It’s exciting to be planning a campaign for a horse like this and credit must go to the owners for keeping him in training.
“He’ll go to the Irish St Leger next and we’ll see after that.”
The success earned Yeats a 10-1 quote from William Hill for the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.
Kinane said: “He’s definitely a very classy individual – probably the best stayer I have ridden.
“Ground would be everything (if he were to go for the Melbourne Cup). Firm is firm in Melbourne and that would be a shade worrying.
“Weight wouldn’t be a worry. He’s a big strapping horse, he carried plenty of weight today and broke the track record so it’s not an inconvenience to him.”
