Heroic Valour
Trish Dunell
Heroic Valour powered to the top of the two-year-old standings at Ellerslie when he stretched his unbeaten record to three.
The Te Akau colt's greenness couldn't mask his raw ability with a sterling effort to down the season's most competitive juvenile line-up in Saturday's Gr.1 Sistema Diamond Stakes.
A debut winner at Trentham who then claimed the Listed Matamata Slipper, Heroic Valour was ridden aggressively from a wide gate to race close to the pace and he rounded off strongly in the run home to maintain his perfect record at the expense of Wyndspelle and O'Rachael.
"He's improving all the time and keeps stepping up," said Jamie Richards, who trains the youngster with Stephen Autridge.
"He still does a few things wrong and that's why we brought him up here to gallop on Tuesday and to give him a god look around."
Heroic Valour credited Te Akau with their fourth individual Group One winner of the season and his champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock with his first two-year-old success at the highest level.
"He's a very talented colt and a very valuable one – we won't be making any decisions just yet on the next move," Richards said. "We'll take a couple of days and then make a plan."
Heroic Valour was ably ridden by Jonathan Riddell, who secured the mount after stable jockey Matt Cameron opted to partner Sassy 'N' Smart, who finished sixth.
"She pulled up well and she's a bit green as well and just needs a draw," Richards said.
A half-brother to the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour, Heroic Valour was a $400,000 Karaka yearling for Te Akau principal David Ellis, who also purchased the full-brother for $510,000 earlier this year.
The favourite and Listed Karaka Million winner tailed the field home and rider Danielle Johnson said the previously undefeated youngster wasn't the same horse and never travelled well. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Te Akau colt's greenness couldn't mask his raw ability with a sterling effort to down the season's most competitive juvenile line-up in Saturday's Gr.1 Sistema Diamond Stakes.
A debut winner at Trentham who then claimed the Listed Matamata Slipper, Heroic Valour was ridden aggressively from a wide gate to race close to the pace and he rounded off strongly in the run home to maintain his perfect record at the expense of Wyndspelle and O'Rachael.
"He's improving all the time and keeps stepping up," said Jamie Richards, who trains the youngster with Stephen Autridge.
"He still does a few things wrong and that's why we brought him up here to gallop on Tuesday and to give him a god look around."
Heroic Valour credited Te Akau with their fourth individual Group One winner of the season and his champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock with his first two-year-old success at the highest level.
"He's a very talented colt and a very valuable one – we won't be making any decisions just yet on the next move," Richards said. "We'll take a couple of days and then make a plan."
Heroic Valour was ably ridden by Jonathan Riddell, who secured the mount after stable jockey Matt Cameron opted to partner Sassy 'N' Smart, who finished sixth.
"She pulled up well and she's a bit green as well and just needs a draw," Richards said.
A half-brother to the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour, Heroic Valour was a $400,000 Karaka yearling for Te Akau principal David Ellis, who also purchased the full-brother for $510,000 earlier this year.
The favourite and Listed Karaka Million winner tailed the field home and rider Danielle Johnson said the previously undefeated youngster wasn't the same horse and never travelled well. – NZ Racing Desk.