Powerful Kiwi owner David Ellis has Group 1 ambitions for Australian bred juvenile Heroic Valour, winner of the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper (1200m) at Matamata on Saturday.
Heroic Valour, a half brother to Doncaster winner Triple Honour by Fastnet Rock, improved his record to two wins from as many starts when defeating Mongolian Falcon and Gasoline.
The first three across the line in the NZ$50,000 stakes race were all bred in Australia, with Mongolian Falcon by Fastnet Rock and Gasoline by Pluck.
Heroic Valour, who was purchased for NZ$400,000 at the 2015 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore Stud draft, is being aimed at the Group 1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie on March 12 before the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes in April.
“He will then go for a spell and is a horse you will see at Riccarton in November for the 2000 Guineas,” Ellis said to stuff.co.nz.
Ellis must like what he sees in Heroic Valour, considering he paid NZ$510,000 for his full-brother at the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale this year.
His dam Myrrh is the dam of Triple Honour, the horse who provided the champion trainer with his first Group 1 success in the 2008 Doncaster Mile.
She missed to Fastnet Rock in 2014 and was served by Zoffany last year.
Heroic Valour raced outside the leader in the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper before kicking strongly in the straight and holding off the fast-finishing Mongolian Falcon, raced by the same owners of Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan.
Mongolian Falcon was purchased at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $150,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft.
He is the first foal to race from Amazing Beauty, who is now in foal to Declaration Of War.
