With just one previous win from 11 starts in Australia, the Chris Waller-trained My Nordic Hero (GB) rewarded supporters that kept the faith in Saturday's $160,000 Group III Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, My Nordic Hero (GB) came from midfield to overpower the very game Goodfella (Snitzel) by a half-length with Chamois Road (Choisir) a further three-quarter of a length back in third. (photo Steve Hart )
"He goes to the Villiers and winning that would get him into the Doncaster which is the aim," Waller told AAP.
"We probably got it wrong with My Nordic Hero last preparation.
"He had been off the scene for a couple of years and even though he was racing well, he wasn't winning, so we stepped him up in distance.
"But this preparation, his first-up run was terrific, so we thought let's keep him fresh and run him here.''
Originally trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger, My Nordic Hero (GB) ran up a four-race winning streak culminating in the Listed Ruby Stakes at Killarney back in August 2015.
A son of the deceased Kingmambo stallion Archipenko, My Nordic Hero's only previous win in Australia came at Moonee Valley on June 16.
A half-brother to the French stakes-winner Alvarita (Selkirk), My Nordic Hero is one of four winners out of the beautifully-related Alborada (Alzao) who was honoured as the Champion 3yo Filly in Ireland in 1998. Her six wins included two runnings of the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
