Lightly raced Duporth gelding Valiant Spirit may have earned a shot at the Group 1 ATC Derby at Randwick following a maiden stakes win in Saturday's Group II Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.
Regan Bayliss made every post a winner on Valiant Spirit who turned for home with a four-length break and held on gamely to defeat the fast-finishing Astoria (Medaglia d'Oro) by one and three-quarter lengths with Mr So And So (So You Think) three-quarters of a length away third. (photo Grant Courtney)
It was the first stakes win for Mornington trainer Daniel Williams whose stable consists of just one horse, Valiant Spirit.
"He just likes to bowl along in front, it's the only thing he knows how to do," Williams said.
"When he is rated right he is just so strong at the finish. He's been feeling really well, 2000m is probably his best trip but I was confident coming here today.
"A Derby has always been the plan but we were thinking more South Australia.
"After that we might be thinking more Sydney now.
"There's a couple of routes to get there. I'm even thinking of maybe the Australian Cup next mainly because of the weight he would get.
"It also keeps me on a fortnightly gap and I can go from there into the Rosehill Guineas.
"We'll see how he pulls up but it's very exciting."
The homebred advances his record to 3 wins, 1 second and 1 from 9 starts with earnings of $179,165.
A half-brother to the Group III Epona stakes winner Vergara (Snippetson), Valiant Spirit is out of the Flying Spur mare Graces Spirit, who is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and successful stallion Turffontein (Johannesburg).
Graces Spirit has a 2yo filly by Canford Cliffs (IRE) and was covered by Smart Missile last spring after missing to that stallion the previous year.
Valiant Spirit becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Kooringal Stud's Duporth.
