Perth trainer Simon Miller has a proven eye for young thoroughbred talent and his recruitment policy was again handsomely rewarded earlier this month.
His New Zealand interest was recently piqued at Riccarton where Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) took her value to a whole new level when she reigned supreme in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, her second stakes success.
The Linda Huddy-bred filly has only been beaten once in six appearances for trainers Peter and Dawn Williams and owners Ger Beemsterboer and Sarah Green, who paid NZ$425,000 for her at Karaka.
“I bought her half-sister by Hinchinbrook at Sydney Easter for $200,000 - she’s worth a bit more now.” - Simon Miller.
“I bought her half-sister by Hinchinbrook at Sydney Easter for $200,000 - she’s worth a bit more now,” Miller said.
“The filly made money while she was eating grass in the paddock.”
Named Amelia’s Contraire, the valuable 2-year-old is taking it easy after finishing runner-up in both of her Lark Hill trials last month.
Amelia's Contraire as a yearling
Outstanding return
Valour Road (Frost Giant {USA}) is another example of Miller’s ability to find value in the yearling market. He was a $60,000 buy at last year’s Perth Yearling Sale and what a piece of business that has already turned out to be.
From five appearances, the chestnut has already banked more than $460,000 for connections with the promise of more to come in Saturday’s G1 Crown Magic Millions Perth Winterbottom S. at Ascot.
Valour Road realised $60,000 at the Perth Magic Millions Sale
“He’s a ripper and at his first start last season he won the Magic Millions Classic and then straight into the Karrakatta Plate and won that too,” Miller said.
“I wasn’t afraid to do that, I knew how good he was.” - Simon Miller.
“I wasn’t afraid to do that, I knew how good he was. Then in the Sires’ Produce it was run at a frantic speed and he was part of it, that was a non-event but he was still brave.”
Valour Road
Valour Road was turned out following that fourth placing and on his return as a 3-year-old he ran fourth at Bunbury before a gallant fifth in the Listed Belgravia S. under 60kg from the outside gate.
“I thought after that we’d head to the Winterbottom,” Miller said. “He’s a star at sprinting and has to take on the older horses, but he does get weight relief.
“I can test him at a mile at a later stage so I feel I’ve made the right decision. He galloped with Malaguerra on Tuesday morning and more than held his own.
“He won’t be out of place in the mounting yard. He looks like a 4-year-old, he’s a big boy.” – Simon Miller.
“He won’t be out of place in the mounting yard. He looks like a 4-year-old, he’s a big boy.”
Trainer, Simon Miller
Valour Road will be ridden by apprentice Ben Allen and they will break from an inside gate.
“The horse has got a massive engine and a great brain to go with it,” Miller said. “He’s a good chance with the weight relief.”
Valour Road is a son of Melba Avenue (Street Sense {USA}), who is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Raspberries (Lonhro) and the family of the G1 Salinger S. winner Flavour (Rubiton) and the G1 Queensland Derby winner Sonntag (Teofilo {IRE}).
