Windsor Park Stud product Valdhez (NZ) looked a three-year-old destined to make his mark in a much higher grade after a stylish victory at Rosehill at the weekend.

The Kim Waugh-trained gelding was far too strong for his rivals over 1400 metres under jockey Brenton Avdulla to post his second career success in three appearances and add further performance to an impressive pedigree.

“I feel vindicated.  I left the track after he failed to run a place last start not knowing what happened,” Waugh said.  “I had a good look at him and he had pulled up well.  I wanted to give him a chance to show us what he’s really capable of and he did that.”

Valdhez (3g High Chaparral – Caeserio by Kaapstad) is a half-brother to G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and Captain Cook Stakes winner Dorabella (Postponed) and G3 Singapore Mile winner Crusoe (Volksraad).  It is also the family of Insouciant (Keeper) who also won a NZ 1000 Guineas winner and was voted New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

Valdhez was purchased out of Windsor Park’s 2009 Premier Sale line-up to Karaka for $110,000 by Victorian-based bloodstock agent Robert Roulston who has retained an ownership interest in the gelding.

Waugh compared him favourably to Mahtoum who she trained to win the 2005 Sydney Cup.  “He is the best horse I’ve had since Mahtoum,” Waugh said.  “And a lot of the owners who were in Mahtoum are in this horse too which makes it even better.

“From day one he showed me plenty.  He is a really special horse.”