Bred to Be Better at Three

Media Release - Friday July 11

Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).

Purchased out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft by Campbell, Tommy Heptinstall and Michael Hickmott for $110,000, Valvano has shown a lot of promise and Campbell is excited about his future.

Valvano was a $110,000 K2 purchase from Rich Hill Stud.

“We like the horse, he is above average,” Campbell said.

The son of Shocking had his first public outing last month when placing in his 1000m trial at Foxton on a Heavy10 track, pleasing Campbell with his performance.

“It was a pretty soft trial, we were just trying to educate him, but I thought he went very nice,” Campbell said.

Valvano will jump from barrier three on Saturday with Ashvin Mudhoo aboard and is rated a $2.80 winning hope by TAB bookmakers.

Campbell is hopeful of a bold showing from his promising youngster this weekend but said the Heavy10 track conditions are his only concern.

“I am just a bit worried about the track and whether he will get through it because I think they are getting a bit of rain,” he said. “But he ran on a Heavy track at the trials and seemed to get through it alright.”

The Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans – Ryder Stakes (1200m) at his home track of Otaki in a fortnight looms as an obvious target, however, Campbell said he will more likely head for a freshen-up ahead of the spring.

Advertisement

“He would have to win on Saturday to possibly go there (Ryder Stakes), but I am more intending to put him out in the paddock for a little bit, maybe 10 days, and aim him for some big three-year-old races hopefully in the spring.”

Campbell is looking forward to stepping his gelding up over ground over the spring, with his ultimate aim being the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

“He’s a Shocking out of a Zabeel mare so you wouldn’t think he would be running in a two-year-old 1200m on his pedigree,” Campbell said. “I think he is going to get ground eventually, but you have got to kick them off somewhere and if he does everything right we will be over the moon.

“The 2000 Guineas is the dream. The money is so good at the moment in New Zealand racing, you almost don’t have to go to Australia anymore.”

Meanwhile, Campbell said Croupier has returned from his Queensland campaign in good order and will also be set for spring targets.

“He stayed over there (Queensland) for a spell and he just came back into the stable on Wednesday and he looks fantastic,” Campbell said. “We will just get him up and going, hopefully he has matured mentally after his campaign in Aussie. There are some nice races for him in the spring.”

Having recently returned to the training ranks following a short hiatus, Campbell has plenty of young stock in his care and he is excited about their prospects.

“We have got some really nice young horses coming through, it’s quite exciting times,” he said. “It’s a great thrill with young horses, they are all untapped and exciting, it is like sitting around a Christmas tree waiting to open your presents.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Godolphin Draft Headlines Huge Inglis Digital July (Early)
A 26-strong Godolphin draft, a G1 placed 3YO with credentials for the $10m Golden Eagle and shares in multiple other G1 performers including dual G1 winner Overpass headline a huge catalogue for the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.