This G1 juvenile over 1200m is one of just two at this level for the youngsters in the season (the other is at 1400m left-handed at Awapuni) and saw an Australian bred colt in Heroic Valour remain unbeaten. The colt by the boom sire Fastnet Rock has size and dash and power plus that homestraight stretch that oozes a will to win. He was used up early wide before sitting third or fourth the outer then once asked to sprint again strode up to lead at the 100m and held on well to score by a neck in 1:09.79. The time was not the quickest of the day but for the babies it was a solid gallop indeed. Heroic Valour has won both directions now and has a G1 and Listed success on his stud resume so is in for an exciting 3yo campaign but first he will try for a four-from-four season in the G1 Sires Produce (1400m) at Awapuni on April 2. Wyndspelle ran home hard for second after getting buried midfield the inner and is improving with racing so is a late season developer. O’Rachael was the first filly home after sitting in the trail and the Australian-bred gained that invaluable G1 blacktype. Her stablemate Tennessee set a fast pace and wilted to finish a sound fourth. Saracino caught the eye running on gamely after a rocky start and settling down midfield the outer, so expect him to keep improving with whatever racing he has left this season whether that be in New Zealand or Australia. Sassy ‘N’ Smart ran a good race for sixth after settling well back then being hampered at the 400m once drawn wide. The filly is a stablemate of the winner and has more to offer this season if set another blacktype target. Gasoline boxed on okay but did not show the ping expected once angled centre track the run home. He seems to have raced a tad dour of late but that could be for all manner of reasons from still growing or having the edge knocked off him amongst other things. He should be suited by further but how his stable approaches the rest of this season with him will be telling. The Soultaker did well late from the back while Midnight Gossip can be forgiven as she was closest in the run home where there was a slower lane. Mongolian Falcon covered the world back and wide and got hampered deeper out at the 400m so did well to be running on. Caorunn also was hampered wider out at the 400m but battled on okay. The rest weakened or stopped too badly to be true including the shock distant last of the favourite Xiong Feng, which was unbeaten up until today. He was never hitting out after knuckling at the start then being hampered and dropped out before the home turn before being eased right down by his rider. A stone bruise subsequently coming out two days later has been deemed the cause of such a shocker. Heroic Valour looks the real deal as still not harnessing his full power yet in a straight line but with such an epic name that will come in time. His stablemate, also an Australian bred, the filly Sassy ‘N’ Smart did very well from the back for sixth and she too has it all ahead. Lots of names from this will win their share of races next season and show the depth was definitely here today in what was a genuine look into the future.