The Hero Rules the Diamond

New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing reports:

Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) yesterday powered to the top of the national two-year-old standings when he stretched his unbeaten record to three.

The Te Akau colt's greenness couldn't mask his raw ability, a sterling effort downing the season's most competitive juvenile line-up in the Group One Sistema Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.

A debut winner at Trentham who then claimed the Listed Matamata Slipper, Heroic Valour was ridden aggressively from a wide gate to race close to the pace and he rounded off strongly in the run home to maintain his perfect record at the expense of the fillies Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj) and O'Rachael (Northern Meteor).

“He's improving all the time and keeps stepping up,” said Jamie Richards, who trains the youngster with Stephen Autridge.

“He still does a few things wrong and that's why we brought him up here to gallop on Tuesday and to give him a good look around.”

Heroic Valour credited Te Akau with their fourth individual Group One winner of the season and his champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock with his first two-year-old success at the highest level. Cameron opted to partner Sassy 'N' Smart (Smart Missile), who finished sixth.

“She pulled up well and she's a bit green as well and just needs a draw,” Richards said.

A half-brother to the Group One Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour (NZ) (Honours List), Heroic Valour was a $400,000 Karaka yearling for Te Akau principal David Ellis, who also purchased the full-brother for $510,000 earlier this year.

The favourite and Listed Karaka Million winner Xiong Feng (NZ) (Iffraaj) tailed the field home and rider Danielle Johnson said the previously undefeated youngster wasn't the same horse and never travelled well.

Picture - Julia-Rose Ellis at daybreak attending Heroic Valour and Sassy 'N' Smart's Ellerslie gallop last Tuesday.