Heroic Valour
Trish Dunell
Unbeaten youngster Heroic Valour hasn't missed a beat since his last outing and he will relish a step up in trip at Awapuni on Saturday.
The 1400 metres of the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes will be more to his liking and another victory will guarantee him champion juvenile honours for the season.
Heroic Valour was a debut winner at Trentham before he claimed the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper and last time out he was too good in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie where he jumped from a wide gate to get close to the pace.
"He's up in trip this time and he's drawn well in gate two. That should enable him to find a position just in behind the speed," said Jamie Richards, who trains the son of Fastnet Rock with Stephen Autridge.
While Heroic Valour was a dominant winner last time, his connections didn't rush into confirming his presence at Awapuni.
"He came through his last run pretty well, but we took our time to make a decision about another run," Richards said.
"He's a very valuable colt whose work leading into this has been spot on.
"Dan Miller rode him on Tuesday morning and once he let the reins slide a fraction the horse was off and gone with his ears flat back – he's a real racehorse who wants to get on with the business."
Jonathan Riddell has retained the ride on Heroic Valour while Matt Cameron will again be on stablemate Sassy 'N' Smart following their sixth placing in the Diamond Stakes.
"She ended up a bit further back than we wanted, but she's done everything 100 percent right since and her work with Heroic Valour on Tuesday morning was excellent," Richards said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The 1400 metres of the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes will be more to his liking and another victory will guarantee him champion juvenile honours for the season.
Heroic Valour was a debut winner at Trentham before he claimed the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper and last time out he was too good in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie where he jumped from a wide gate to get close to the pace.
"He's up in trip this time and he's drawn well in gate two. That should enable him to find a position just in behind the speed," said Jamie Richards, who trains the son of Fastnet Rock with Stephen Autridge.
While Heroic Valour was a dominant winner last time, his connections didn't rush into confirming his presence at Awapuni.
"He came through his last run pretty well, but we took our time to make a decision about another run," Richards said.
"He's a very valuable colt whose work leading into this has been spot on.
"Dan Miller rode him on Tuesday morning and once he let the reins slide a fraction the horse was off and gone with his ears flat back – he's a real racehorse who wants to get on with the business."
Jonathan Riddell has retained the ride on Heroic Valour while Matt Cameron will again be on stablemate Sassy 'N' Smart following their sixth placing in the Diamond Stakes.
"She ended up a bit further back than we wanted, but she's done everything 100 percent right since and her work with Heroic Valour on Tuesday morning was excellent," Richards said. – NZ Racing Desk.