Heroic Valour
Trish Dunell
Heroic Valour is to be given the opportunity to add champion honours to his already unique standing.
The unbeaten colt is one of an international kind as the first Group One juvenile winner sired by the influential stallion Fastnet Rock.
Now Heroic Valour can double his top level tally with confirmation from Te Akau Racing that he will contest the Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on Saturday week with victory to guarantee him the two-year-old of the season award.
"He's definitely heading toward Awapuni," said Stephen Autridge who prepares Heroic Valour with Jamie Richards.
"We wanted to make sure he came through his last run 110 percent, which he has, and we've kept him ticking over."
Successful on debut at Trentham in January, Heroic Valour then won the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper at Matamata before he was too good for a hot line-up in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
"Obviously he's still doing plenty wrong and he's still learning, but he's still winning. He's a very, very smart colt," Autridge said.
"Even though he's won right-handed, I'm happier with him going left-handed so it's all looking good for Manawatu."
The stable will also be represented in the Awapuni feature by the filly Sassy 'N' Smart.
The winner of her first two starts including the Listed Welcome Stakes, she was narrowly beaten from a wide gate when second in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes and again drew a poor barrier when sixth in the Diamond Stakes.
Stable jockey Matt Cameron opted for Sassy 'N' Smart ahead of Heroic Valour, who was partnered by Jonathan Riddell, at Ellerslie but no decision has been made on riding engagements for Awapuni. – NZ Racing Desk.
The unbeaten colt is one of an international kind as the first Group One juvenile winner sired by the influential stallion Fastnet Rock.
Now Heroic Valour can double his top level tally with confirmation from Te Akau Racing that he will contest the Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on Saturday week with victory to guarantee him the two-year-old of the season award.
"He's definitely heading toward Awapuni," said Stephen Autridge who prepares Heroic Valour with Jamie Richards.
"We wanted to make sure he came through his last run 110 percent, which he has, and we've kept him ticking over."
Successful on debut at Trentham in January, Heroic Valour then won the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper at Matamata before he was too good for a hot line-up in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
"Obviously he's still doing plenty wrong and he's still learning, but he's still winning. He's a very, very smart colt," Autridge said.
"Even though he's won right-handed, I'm happier with him going left-handed so it's all looking good for Manawatu."
The stable will also be represented in the Awapuni feature by the filly Sassy 'N' Smart.
The winner of her first two starts including the Listed Welcome Stakes, she was narrowly beaten from a wide gate when second in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes and again drew a poor barrier when sixth in the Diamond Stakes.
Stable jockey Matt Cameron opted for Sassy 'N' Smart ahead of Heroic Valour, who was partnered by Jonathan Riddell, at Ellerslie but no decision has been made on riding engagements for Awapuni. – NZ Racing Desk.
