Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Purchased out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Campbell, Tommy Heptinstall and Michael Hickmott for $110,000, Valvano has shown a lot of promise and Campbell is excited about his future.
“We like the horse, he is above average,” Campbell said.
The son of Shocking had his first public outing last month when placing in his 1000m trial at Foxton on a Heavy10 track, pleasing Campbell with his performance.
“It was a pretty soft trial, we were just trying to educate him, but I thought he went very nice,” Campbell said.
Valvano will jump from barrier three on Saturday with Ashvin Mudhoo aboard and is rated a $2.80 winning hope by TAB bookmakers.
Campbell is hopeful of a bold showing from his promising youngster this weekend but said the Heavy10 track conditions are his only concern.
“I am just a bit worried about the track and whether he will get through it because I think they are getting a bit of rain,” he said. “But he ran on a Heavy track at the trials and seemed to get through it alright.”
The Listed Phils Electrical and Gipsy Caravans – Ryder Stakes (1200m) at his home track of Otaki in a fortnight looms as an obvious target, however, Campbell said he will more likely head for a freshen-up ahead of the spring.
“He would have to win on Saturday to possibly go there (Ryder Stakes), but I am more intending to put him out in the paddock for a little bit, maybe 10 days, and aim him for some big three-year-old races hopefully in the spring.”
Campbell is looking forward to stepping his gelding up over ground over the spring, with his ultimate aim being the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
“He’s a Shocking out of a Zabeel mare so you wouldn’t think he would be running in a two-year-old 1200m on his pedigree,” Campbell said. “I think he is going to get ground eventually, but you have got to kick them off somewhere and if he does everything right we will be over the moon.
“The 2000 Guineas is the dream. The money is so good at the moment in New Zealand racing, you almost don’t have to go to Australia anymore.”
Meanwhile, Campbell said Croupier has returned from his Queensland campaign in good order and will also be set for spring targets.
“He stayed over there (Queensland) for a spell and he just came back into the stable on Wednesday and he looks fantastic,” Campbell said. “We will just get him up and going, hopefully he has matured mentally after his campaign in Aussie. There are some nice races for him in the spring.”
Having recently returned to the training ranks following a short hiatus, Campbell has plenty of young stock in his care and he is excited about their prospects.
“We have got some really nice young horses coming through, it’s quite exciting times,” he said. “It’s a great thrill with young horses, they are all untapped and exciting, it is like sitting around a Christmas tree waiting to open your presents.”