Darley sire Ad Valorem kicked-off his second season with Perth winner Venetian Prince at Belmont on Wednesday.

Venetian Prince (3g Ad Valorem – Tintoretto by Commands) produced a whirlwind finish in the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1200m) to beat Palmdale by a long head.

The Ascot based gelding is prepared by Trevor Andrews for the Oz Racing syndicate.  Darley sold him as a foal for $18,000 to agent Kevin Dagg at the 2009 Inglis Great Southern Sale.  “Despite the strength of the win, I’m reluctant to step him up in journey,” Andrews said.  “He needs to chill out a little.”

Ad Valorem (Danzig) finished on top of the first-season winners’ table in 2010-11 along with Nadeem, All Bar One and Red Dazzler.

The quartet were all represented by 8 individual winners.  Eureka Stud sire Red Dazzler went ahead when the Jason McLachlan trained filly Redsyn won at Doomben on Wednesday but he was joined by Ad Valorem a couple of hours later.

Venetian Prince’s dam Tintoretto has a 100% record at stud.  Her first foal Jacopo (Lonhro) won at Gosford last season.

Tintoretto is a Sydney winning half-sister to G2 AJC Expressway Stakes winner Hockney (Quest for Fame).  The mare has since foaled fillies by Dubai Destination and Any Given Saturday.