John O’Shea trained 3 year-old (Exceed and Excel – Valadon by Woodman) is the latest Belmont Bloodstock yearling purchase to taste racetrack success.
Debuting last Saturday at Kembla Grange on a slow track over 1200m, Valid (who was a 2 year-old at the time of the race) was taking on older opposition and handled it well to dead-heat for first with fellow first-start and well bred galloper from the Hawkes stable, Jamaican Warrior (Lonhro – Nanny Maroon).
Valid was a $110,000 purchase from the 2010 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales from the draft of Ron Gilbert’s Highgrove Stud. To view his sirecam footage from 2010 go to http://www.sirecam.com.au/video/Inglis_Australian_Easter_Yearling_Sale/2010/235
There appears to be plenty of upside for Valid, given that he raced greenly and is still learning his trade. He will be nominated for a race in the city for his next outing.
Valid’s sire Exceed and Excel was crowned the world’s leading sire of 2 year-olds in the 2010/11 season and is standing this season at Darley Stud for a fee of $66,000.
Congratulations to a big group of owners headed by Nick Curtis.
