Jockey Damien Browne believes the best is yet to come from Vacallo following an impressive victory at Doomben on Wednesday.

Vacallo (3g Thorn Park – Miss Sandman by Regal Advice) edged out Midnight Minx and Elvine’s Elsie in the Ascend Sales Maiden Plate (1030m).  “He’s a very nice type with plenty of scope,” Browne said.  “And he will be even better with more racing and the addition of blinkers.”

Vacallo is a half brother to Show A Heart (Brave Warrior) whose victory in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap was a fitting farewell before he started stud duties at Glenlogan Park in 2002.

Trainer Rob Heathcote admitted Vacallo’s win caught him off guard but he’s confident the gelding has a bright future.  “It did surprise me and the only downside was the decision to have him gelded after he was broken-in,” Heathcote said.  “But he had a temperament problem and there was no other option.”

Vacallo is owned by Ross and Judy Cutts who also raced Show A Heart.  The couple are in New Zealand and missed the victory.

They owned Rich Hill Stud stallion Any Suggestion (Lion Hunter) who heads the NZ first-season sires’ premiership this season.  His dam and Miss Sandman are sisters.  Any Suggestion won 9 races and was also a G1 runner-up to Miss Andretti in the 2007 MVRC Australia Stakes.

Miss Sandman is also based at Rich Hill Stud and she has a yearling colt by English Derby winner Sir Percy.