Former outstanding racehorse Criterion has had well documented fertility troubles at stud producing just 14 foals from his first crop and one of them made an impressive winning debut at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Yardstick had impressed in recent t rials and was favourite for the 1100m colts and geldings maiden.

He worked forward for Nash Rawiller to take the lead and controlled the race to his liking before going on to score a stylish length win.

“He’s still inexperienced and was quite raw today, so he’s open to some sharp improvement from this run,” said Adrian Bott.

“We see him as a nice horse, a very progressive horse.”

A $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Dynamic Syndications / Dean Watt Bloodstock, Yardstick runs in the Dynamic colours for a big group of owners that includes Newgate Farm.

Bred by SF Bloodstock and partners, Yardstick was foaled and raised at Newgate and is the first winner for Exceleine, a metropolitan winning Exceed and Excel mare from the family of Group II winner and sire Domesday.

The third dam of Exceleine is international blue hen Monroe, whose many Group I winning descendants include this year’s Group I Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Siskin.

Exceleine was on-sold by Newgate Farm in 2018 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale for $70,000 and is now with Cornerstone Stud.

Criterion has only had three runners so far and all have shown good ability, Yardstick the second winner joining two time winner Blaze a Trail and Lady of Luxury, who was third in the Wellington Boot.