As a son of Arrowfield Stud’s shuttle-stallion Maurice (Jpn) in the stable of Ciaron Maher with a pedigree that suggests he’ll appreciate further than the 1400m he scored over on Wednesday, could Sandown winner Vallice be another Hitotsu?
Having finished fifth on debut over 1200m at Donald off the back of four barrier jumpouts, the 2yo gelding went back to the jumpouts before breaking his maiden in strong fashion with the step up to 1400m in the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap.
Away well from barrier five, the Jabez Johnstone ridden gelding went forward along the rail, and after the field worked itself out, he found himself in fourth position behind Chris Waller’s Satono’s Shout who took up the running.
Coming off the rail as the field entered the home straight, Johnstone needed to wait for a gap, and once the eventual second placed Meness kicked for home, Vallice had enough momentum to go forward to chase.
Hitting the lead with 100m to run, the gelding powered to the line in a performance that suggested that further would not pose any issues, and when you note that he is out of a three-quarter-sister to a G1 Doomben Cup (2000m) winner, it continues to cement those opinions.
Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull was on course to discuss the promising victory.
“Yeah, always shown a bit, and we believe he'll get up over a trip in time as well.
“So it didn't work out for him throughout, and he was on the bit over-travelling at times, off a sedate tempo, but it was good to see him quick and off the back of that.
“And he had nothing to take him into the bend there, and he had to do all the work himself, yet he was able to pick up and round off.
“It's that time of year that you probably have to start thinking about spring. So, being of the mould he is and the pedigree he has, yeah, he could be a breather and we'll get on the right leg for those better races.”
Purchased for $200,000 by his trainer from the Inglis Premier yearling sale draft of Aristia Park, Vallice is the first winner out of the Guiliani mare Moselle Valley (GER), herself a sister to G3 winner Mountaha, three-quarter-sister to G1 winner Mawingo and a half-sister to Mystique (dam of Listed winner Mystery Island).
Unfortunately, Moselle Valley hasn’t had much luck since foaling Vallice, having not been covered the following season before missing to In The Congo, while in the spring she was covered by Rosemont Stud’s G1 William Reid Stakes winner Schwarz (Zoustar) in his first season at stud.
Vallice is the first 2yo winner this season for Maurice, with the six-time G1-winning son of Screen Hero (Jpn) set to stand the upcoming breeding season at a fee of $44,000 (inc. GST), alongside his history-making triple G1-winning son Hitosu who will command a fee of $16,500 (Inc. GST).
