First Win for Record Priced Northern Meteor

A $640,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase from the Widden Stud draft for China Horse Club, Rainbow Nation was the most expensive yearling ever sired by ill-fated Northern Meteor and he opened his account with an easy win at Wyong on Tuesday.

Gelded after two unplaced runs last year, the Gerald Ryan trained three year-old has turned the corner this preparation.

A close up third at his first run back at Gosford at the start of the month, Rainbow Nation stripped fitter and wiser with that run under his belt and led throughout to win the 1200 metre maiden by two and a half lengths.

Rainbow Nation is the fifth winner from five foals to race from Saffie Darling, a winning half-sister to world champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom.

An explosive Group I winning son of Encosta de Lago, Northern Meteor stood for just four seasons at Widden Stud, but has left a remarkable legacy with no fewer than five of his best sons now at stud headed by dual Group I winner Zoustar, who returns to Widden this spring following a season in Victoria.