Sent out a well fancied $6 chance with bookmakers after showing great potential at the trials, Valour Road led from start to finish in the 2YO Classic.
Winning hoop Aaron Mitchell wasted hard to make the weight to ride the rising star juvenile for his debut.
The tall, but incredibly talented hoop, was thrilled with the win and thanked all connections for giving him the opportunity to win the feature.
“He’d shown us every sign that he could do it,” Mitchell said. “I’m just so relieved we were able to get the job done.”
“It’s a great thrill,” Mitchell added.
Trainer Simon Miller went to $60,000 to buy Valour Road at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from the draft of Ron Sayers’ Yarradale Stud.
Sayers retained a small share in the gelding and raced him in partnership with a huge group – most of who were celebrating loudly when their charge held out all challengers late in the race
“Full credit to the boss,” a delighted assistant trainer Kelly Kinninmont said. “He’s done a great job to get him ready for today.”
“The horse had shown in the trials that he was above average and after getting a run in the race it’s all gone to plan,” she added.
Valour Road is the first Australian stakes winner for international sire Frost Giant – an international Group One winning son of Giant’s Causeway.
The Classic winner is the first named foal for the winning Street Sense mare Melba Avenue, the half sister to multiple group winner Raspberries.
Valour Road’s family also includes Group One winners Flavour and Sonntag.
Meanwhile, Epic Grey broke through for a deserved first win at black type level when he scored a tough win in the $150,000 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy RL (1200m).
The most consistent horse in Western Australia, and one of the most popular, Epic Grey overcame a wide run to score a solid win in a crack field.
Prepared by Lindsey Smith and with Daniel Staeck aboard, Epic Grey, like Valour Road, is owned by a large and excited group of owners.
“He’s one of my favourites to ride,” Staeck said. “He’s never been unplaced and he’s so consistent.”
“Mr Smith set him for this race and he’s done it which I’m so pleased with for the stable and the large group of owners,” he added.
Epic Grey was purchased for Smith by Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock for $67,500 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
“Fletch” as he is known around the stable, Epic Grey is the second black type winner for Wicked Style an American Group One winner by Macho Uno.
Epic Grey was bred by Neville Stewart of Oaklands Stud and farm client Alan Newcombe and sold through the Oaklands draft on the Gold Coast.
The good looking grey is from the twice winner Embellish and her latest yearling, a Sidereus half brother to Epic Grey, will go under the hammer as Lot 333 at March’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Oaklands Stud.
The Pinjarra winners weren’t the only young Magic Millions graduates to shine as black type winners.
Sandbar (Snitzel) emerged as a Golden Slipper contender after scoring an impressive win in the listed Lonhro Plate at Warwick Farm.
Prepared by Brad Widdup and in the colours of Damion Flower’s Jadeskye Racing, Sandbar has now won both of his starts and connections are excited about his future.
Sandbar was bred and sold by John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud for $650,000 at last year’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Enbihaar was another youngster to extend its unbeaten run when she scored a determined victory in the Group Two Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at Caulfield.
A member of the Lindsay Park operation, Enbihaar became the third Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Shadwell Stud to win at stakes level as a juvenile this season.
The daughter of Magnus was bred by Victoria’s Dorrington Farm and sold for $200,000 through the draft of Segenhoe Stud last year.
Enbihaar had won her only previous start at Morphettville.
