Ace trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo was on good terms with himself when $5.20 chance Dame Valour settled down in the perfect position, one-out and one-back, immediately behind the breeze horse and $2.75 favourite Off The Charts in the $21,000 Greg Richardson Member Since 2013 Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But when Chris Lewis urged Off The Charts to the front 650m after the start Dame Valour was left racing without cover. However, Dame Valour was able to relax in the breeze, and she burst to the front 220m from home on her way to winning by a half-length from $12 chance Fly To The Finish, who finished solidly from the one-out, one-back position. Off The Charts wilted to finish sixth.
“Dame Valour does only what she needs to do, and tonight she got the job done,” said De Campo. “She is probably better sit-kick.”
Dame Valour is by Sweet Lou and is the fourth foal out of Brush With Courage, who was retired after racing nine times for three wins, two seconds and $33,895 in prizemoney. Dame Valour has earned $95,324 from ten wins and twelve placings from 33 starts.
Brush With Courage is a half-sister to Rockandrollartist, who was successful earlier in Friday night’s ten-event program.
By Ken Casellas