Gingerbread Man rounded out a good week for Yarradale Stud on Saturday when his mare Valency won the TABtouch-Westspeed Platinum Hcp (1000m) at Ascot.
Valency charged through a narrow gap in the shadows of the winning post to lead home a Yarradale quinella from Leica Jaguar (War Chant) with front-runner My Baby Blue Jean (Snippetson) a half-length away in an exciting three-way finish.
“I thought she needed a bit of luck in the straight and then Jade (McNaught) got her through late,” trainer Robyn Lockwood said. “She can run a really good sectional and her work on Tuesday told me she could come here without needing a trial.”
Valency (4m Gingerbread Man – Secret Mak by Lonhro) had been spelling since Xmas Eve and was the centre of strong support to repeat a first-up win at Belmont last July. Lockwood also mentioned she’s come back much stronger and will keep improving over longer distances than 1000m.
Bred and sold for $40,000 by Dawson Stud at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, she has earned over $100,000 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $40,000 for owner Bill Godecke. Her dam Secret Mak is owned by Graham Daws in partnership with Yarradale and her yearling colt by Nicconi made $150,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February.
War Chant (USA) sired his latest maiden winner when Beats Of War landed the Hygain Plate (1400m) at Pinjarra on Thursday. It was his third start at Pinjarra this month since debuting there on April 2.
Beats Of War (3g War Chant – Massagi by Delago Deluxe) is trained by Darren McAuliffe for an Impressive Racing syndicate and is from a younger half-sister to McAuliffe’s giant-killer Gatting (Hard Spun) who won the G2 WATC Derby (2400) in 2017 before entering racing folklore with a $101 boilover in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in 2019.
Beats Of War is the 580th individual winner by War Chant and they have won 2,027 races worldwide.
Former Yarradale sire City Place (USA) was also a winner at Albury on Friday with Mr Metrics in the MWS Wealth Professionals Hcp (1400m). He’s trained by Mitch Beer for Patriot Bloodstock after initially being purchased by Hong Kong-based agent David Price from Yarradale at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions.
His dam Single Spice (Not A Single Doubt) had earlier foaled G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man) who subsequently transferred to Hong Kong where he has won four races, the latest at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day, for earnings the equivalent of AUD 1.87 million!