Frost Giant's Valour Road Takes the Bolton Sprint

Mark Smith - Sunday June 23

The Simon Miller-trained three-year-old Valour Road took his earnings to over $842,000 following his win in Saturday's Listed H G Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont.

The winner of the Group II Euclase Stakes at Morphettville, Valour Road was making his first start since an honourable sixth in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 18.

Sent off an odd-on favourite under William Pike, the son of Frost Giant (USA) defeated Lockroy (More Than Ready) by one and a quarter lengths with Floyd (Not A Single Doubt) back in third.

In winning the race for the fifth time Pike said it did not come without some worries.

"I thought I was in a bit of bother on the turn," Pike told The West Australian.

"It was a funny race tactically, but I thought there was a lot of courage in his win and he's got a good will to win."

A $60,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the Yarradale Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Valour Road (pictured as a yearling ) has won five of his 10 starts.

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He is the first foal of 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 2yo War Chant (USA) colt and a weanling colt by City Place (USA). She was covered by Exceed And Excel last spring.

Valour Road 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.

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