Atlantic Jewel

He's in his sixth stable, has undergone a couple of name changes and next week technically turns six years of age in Australia, but the first foal of Atlantic Jewel is finally set to debut.

Empireofthedragon, a product of a union between legendary stallion Galileo and the former champion Australian mare, steps out in the $31,500 TAC Maiden Plate at Swan Hill on Friday.

It comes more than 18 months after he landed in Australia, but less than a month after taking up residence with Caulfield trainer Robert Hickmott, who expects to learn plenty about the gelding in the 1600-metre event.

"I've only had him for three weeks and he's done nothing but please me since he's come into the stable," Hickmott said.

"He's a beautiful horse to deal with and he's a fully-set Galileo, so hopefully there's some upside there."

A debut assignment at Swan Hill - coincidentally, where Atlantic Jewel's Caulfield Guineas-winning sister Commanding Jewel made her debut - would have been long odds when Empireofthedragon was foaled in Ireland on March 25, 2015.

Initially trained by Aidan O'Brien, Empireofthedragon left the Irish maestro's care with a number of other regally bred performers when part of a bulk purchase by Yulong in late 2018.

He was entrusted to Lindsay Park, where he was known as Yulong Dragon, before a change of scenery was deemed necessary, which resulted in a stint with Nathan Dunn at Cranbourne.

He was with Dunn until October last year, when he was sold for $5000 to Caliber Racing in an online sale and was transferred to Barry Muddle at Kyneton.

Once again operating under the name Empireofthedragon, he remained in Kyneton until he found his way to Hickmott but had been transferred from Muddle to Helen White in the interim.

Empireofthedragon was entered for multiple races when in White's care around the time Atlantic Jewel's son Russian Emperor was going around one of the leading fancies at Royal Ascot and while he never accepted, he was due to debut at Ballarat on June 28 only to be scratched.

Empireofthedragon took up residence with Hickmott not long after that and, as former head trainer for Lloyd Williams, one thing he is familiar with is products of Galileo, with Hickmott describing him as a 'typical Galileo'.

"The mile first-up will be no worries for him," Hickmott said.

"I'd love him to win for the owner, because he has been a bit of a project horse."

Empireofthedragon, who has been $13 into $10 with BetEasy, has drawn barrier six and will be ridden by Brad Rawiller in what is the third race on the Mildura Cup program.

One of his rivals is another of the Coolmore shipment to Yulong - Yulong Song - who will be having his second start of his second preparation for Lindsay Park.

Yulong Song, who was known as Memphis when he landed in Australia, is another son of Galileo who is out of the Congrats mare Turbulent Descent.

That makes him a brother to Spanish Steps, winner of the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown in August 2017, who subsequently came to Australia but was unplaced in three runs for Williams.

Yulong Song also landed in Australia unraced and finished second to Flag Edition at Benalla on debut before a fourth placing to Aussie Nugget at Seymour ahead of a spell, with his first-up run producing a fifth of 12, as a $2.30 favourite, over 1400m at Wangaratta on June 29.

Yulong Song is a $5.50 chance in BetEasy's market, which is headed by the Andrew Noblet-trained Legend Of Zorro ($2.45), who has finished second at his past two starts.