Matt's Milestone & Another Stakes' Win

The Informant reports:

Matt Cameron reached 1000 career wins in New Zealand in the perfect fashion today as he wore the Te Akau tangerine to victory aboard Heroic Valour in the Listed Reid & Harrison (1980) Limited Slipper at Matamata.

Te Akau Racing has been a long-time employer and supporter of Cameron, who has been the syndication powerhouse's number-one rider for almost half a decade. Cameron was delighted to bring up the milestone in the Te Akau colours, riding of the stable's brightest young talents.

“It's awesome to bring up the 1000th winner wearing the Te Akau tangerine,” Cameron said. “They've been a massive supporter through most of my career, and a couple of hundred of my wins would have been for them. It's just awesome.

“It's definitely a proud moment. I didn't really know about it until I reached about 995, but it's a great feeling to get there. I don't think many people have done it while still in their 20s, so it's huge.”

But Cameron had to share the accolades following today's race with Heroic Valour himself, a Fastnet Rock colt bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $400,000 at last year's Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Heroic Valour sat outside the early leader Nova Swiss in a tactical five-horse contest this afternoon before taking control at the top of the straight.

The inexperienced youngster appeared to ease up a little after shaking off the challenge of the favourite Gasoline, but he lifted again when fellow Fastnet Rock colt Mongolian Falcon came at him with a late burst. Heroic Valour held on to win by a head.

“That was pretty impressive,” Cameron said. “He lost concentration a little bit in the straight, but when that other horse came at him he was able to find some more. He's a big baby. He's got plenty left to learn, and when he does that he's going to be even better.

“He's definitely Group One material. I think competing against better horses will make him race better and give him something to focus on and chase down.”

Heroic Valour is now unbeaten in two starts and has won $37,500 in prize-money. His victory was the eighth stakes win this season for Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, who lead the trainers' premiership with 63 wins.

“Jamie and I are lucky to have horses like this to train,” Autridge said. "David buys all these really good horses and they make us look good."

“This horse has a lot of improvement in him and could be anything. He's got plenty of ability. He's got a lot to learn, but he's going the right way.

“We think he's a Group One horse, and we'll be looking to go to the Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie for his next start.”

Ellis had more than one reason to celebrate today's win, having bought another colt by Fastnet Rock out of Myrrh for $510,000 at this year's Premier Yearling Sale.

“The full-brother is at home being broken in at the moment,” Ellis said. “This is a great result.”

Heroic Valour's win continued the perfect start for Matamata trainers at the big local meeting today, the fourth local victory in four races.

Mongolian Falcon lost few admirers with his big finish from the rear of the field, completing a Fastnet Rock quinella in the Listed feature. Gasoline battled on solidly for third, becoming the first black-type performer for his freshman sire Pluck.