The Heroic One Returns

Group One winning two-year-old Heroic Valour has returned to Te Akau Racing's Stable at Matamata for a preparation aimed towards the Group One 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November - a race that Te Akau has won five times, most recently with Xtravagant in 2015.

Heroic Valour has been spelling at Te Akau Stud since he was late scratched from the Group One Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes due to the heavy track. He ended his two-year-old season with three starts for three victories, including the Group One Diamond Stakes and Listed Matamata Slipper - in winning the Diamond Stakes, he became the first Group One winning 2yo of super sire Fastnet Rock anywhere in the world - that's quite an achievement when you consider the very good horses that stallion has produced.

Co-trainer Jamie Richards says “the colt came back into the stable last week and settled in beautifully to his old box”.

“Physically he has gone to that next level as hoped with a horse going from two to three years old. He has really strengthened up and has a big motor on him now. Regular track work rider Kris Shailer has also been impressed with the development and couldn't be happier with the way he feels early in his prep”.

Richards said the stable has some lofty aims for Heroic Valour this upcoming season. A programme will be worked out over the next few weeks, but he will be at Te Teko trials in August. Seeing how he performs there will decide whether he is aimed at races such as the Hawkes Bay Guineas & James & Annie Sarten Memorial or whether he heads south early in the spring.