Valour Road Makes Triumphant Return

Mark Smith - Saturday August 26

After a 65-week hiatus, Simon Miller's grand old warrior Valour Road made a triumphant return to racing in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) at Belmont.

The old marvel Valour Road (image Western Racepix)

Last seen when fifth in the Listed Belmont stakes in May last year, the 8yo son of Frost Giant (USA) finished best to defeat fellow veteran Nerodio (God Has Spoken) by a long neck with the front-running Phanta (Gingerbread Man), the same distance back in third.

Advertisement

The Group II WATC Karrakatta Plate winner at two, Valour Road earned an eighth stakes success to advance his record to ten wins, five seconds, and two thirds with earnings of $1,529,457.

"He's never been afforded nine months off before, and he loved it," an emotional Simon Miller said.

"I was having lunch with (former rider) Aaron Mitchell yesterday, and we were reminiscing how he won the Magic Millions at his first start and the Karrakatta Plate at his second.

"This time in, his action has been so smooth, and I thought he would just come here and win.

"He was a weighted certainty at WFA as his trackwork and trials suggested.

"He has done a ton of trackwork at home, and I thought he could come here and deliver.

Endless joy for devoted connections (image Western Racepix)

"The old boy is a marvel."

A $60,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the Yarradale Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Valour Road is the best of two winners from as many to race for the winning Street Sense (USA) mare Melba Avenue.

A half-sister to dual Group III winner Raspberries (Lonhro) from the family of Group 1 Salinger Stakes winner Flavour and Group 1 Queensland Derby winner Sonntag, Melba Avenue has been courted by the best around in recent years.

Vallour Road a $60,000 Perth Magic Millions yearling

Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) purchased her I Am Invincible colt for $375,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 National Weanling Sale.

Melba Avenue was covered by Pinatubo (IRE) last spring.

Valour Road is one of 19 stakes-winners and is the standout performer for two-season shuttler Frost Giant (USA).

A Grade 1 winning son of Giant's Causeway (USA), Frost Giant (USA) did not return after covering a book of 59 mares at Yarradale in 2014. The 43 live foals from that crop included Valour Road.

Advertisment

Race Result - Idyllic Prince Stakes LR 1300m

Belmont Park Track: Good(4) Time: 1:17.41
1
Valour Road
- 8g Frost Giant (USA) x Melba Avenue (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: Chris Parnham 59
2
0.4
Nerodio
- 8g Playing God (AUS) x Black Carat (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Bakranich Rdr: W Pike 59
3
0.8
Phanta
- 6g Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Dubi Dubi Do (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: C & M Gangemi Rdr: B Parnham 59
4
4.0
Ginger Flyer
- 7m Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Dubi Dubi Do (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: Holly Watson 57
5
5.1
Western Temple
- 10g Dream Ahead (USA) x Western Jewel (AUS) (Jeune (GB))
Tnr: P J Fernie Rdr: Joseph Azzopardi 59
6
5.4
Neufbosc
- 9g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Nonsuch Way (IRE) (Verglas (IRE))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: S Parnham 59
7
6.9
Comes A Time
- 7g Sessions (AUS) x Let's Go (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Michael Grantham Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 59
8
7.4
Let's Galahvant
- 5g Galah (AUS) x Secret Crush (AUS) (So Secret (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Pearce Rdr: Michael Poy 59
More Reading...
Stallion Shares in Cool Aza Beel Offer Rare Opportunity via Magic Millions Virtual Sale
Breeders will have a timely chance to invest in one of Australia’s most exciting young stallions next week, with two individual stallion shares in Cool Aza Beel to be offered via the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on Tuesday, August 5.
Glorious Goodwood Day 1- Bluebloods, Bargains and Tragedy
The famed Glorious Goodwood meeting got underway overnight with three Group races contested that saw all of the favourites rolled with a new G1 winner for Justify, a first stakes-winner for a young Frankel sire son and a return to form for Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 28
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Closer Look at Written Tycoon – The Golden Crop Delivers
The sun might be setting on the stud career of Written Tycoon, but he’s not going into the twilight years quietly and is set to be crowned Champion Australian 3YO Sire this season, which is probably something predicted by many when he got the opportunity of a lifetime to cover at Arrowfield Stud for one season in 2020.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Savabeel Stakes-Winner in the Making
A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.
Tenth Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy has had a promising start to his stud career with his tenth winner arriving on Tuesday while at the Rosehill trials one of his unraced youngsters produced a slick trial win to hold out Group performing colts Skyhook and West of Swindon.
Beaufort Downs Celebrate Stakes Success with Platinum Diamond
A pedigree close to the hearts of Beaufort Downs has added another black-type strike to the North Canterbury farm’s roll of honour.