Master Of Design sprinter Port Vale has been thrown in at the deep end of the G2 McEwen Stakes (12000m) at Moonee Valley this Saturday.

He earned a start against the Darren Weir-trained flyer Nature Strip and Group 1 mare Shoals after a first-up victory in the Terry Howe Printing Hcp (1050m) at Morphettville. “He’s a class horse and has got a good race in him,” trainer Stuart Gower said following that eye-catching run a fortnight ago. “He didn’t see daylight until very late but really hit the line.

“He’s eating up and his work has been super. He was a bit of a rev-head last season but he’s a lot stronger since that first prep.”

Master Of Design got him from Rubivale (Rubiton) and he’s bred to go fast.

The Greta West Stud stallion won the G1 T J Smith (1200m) at Randwick in a time only bettered by Black Caviar. And his older half-sister Melba (Dash For Cash) clocked 55.24s to win the Essendon Mazda Challenge (955m) at Moonee Valley in 2012.

Master Of Design export Holee Money is also making headway for a return to racing in Hong Kong. He injured an off-fore tendon when fourth on debut at Sha Tin last November.

Trainer Tony Millard has taken time bringing him back to fitness and the HKJC trackwork schedule confirmed four strong gallops in August. He cost $210,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale after being pin-hooked as a foal by NZ couple Mark & Sarah Devcich.

“We loved Master Of Design as a racehorse and as a type,” Sarah Devcich said at Oaklands. “Our colt is a lovely balanced individual and has a lot of the sire about him.”

Holee Money’s dam Sparkling Symphony (Stravinsky) is a half-sister to Hong Kong stakes winner Packing Winner (Zabeel).

In other Greta West news, Kris Lee reports Le Romain came out of last Saturday’s G2 Tramway Stakes victory without any issues. He will race next week in either the G3 Cameron Hcp in Newcastle on Friday or G1 George Main Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Master Of Design (Redoute’s Choice) stands at Greta West Stud for a $4,400 service fee alongside King Of Prussia (Anabaa) at $2,200.

PORT VALE