After a 65-week hiatus, Simon Miller's grand old warrior Valour Road made a triumphant return to racing in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) at Belmont.
Last seen when fifth in the Listed Belmont stakes in May last year, the 8yo son of Frost Giant (USA) finished best to defeat fellow veteran Nerodio (God Has Spoken) by a long neck with the front-running Phanta (Gingerbread Man), the same distance back in third.
The Group II WATC Karrakatta Plate winner at two, Valour Road earned an eighth stakes success to advance his record to ten wins, five seconds, and two thirds with earnings of $1,529,457.
"He's never been afforded nine months off before, and he loved it," an emotional Simon Miller said.
"I was having lunch with (former rider) Aaron Mitchell yesterday, and we were reminiscing how he won the Magic Millions at his first start and the Karrakatta Plate at his second.
"This time in, his action has been so smooth, and I thought he would just come here and win.
"He was a weighted certainty at WFA as his trackwork and trials suggested.
"He has done a ton of trackwork at home, and I thought he could come here and deliver.
"The old boy is a marvel."
A $60,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the Yarradale Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Valour Road is the best of two winners from as many to race for the winning Street Sense (USA) mare Melba Avenue.
A half-sister to dual Group III winner Raspberries (Lonhro) from the family of Group 1 Salinger Stakes winner Flavour and Group 1 Queensland Derby winner Sonntag, Melba Avenue has been courted by the best around in recent years.
Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) purchased her I Am Invincible colt for $375,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 National Weanling Sale.
Melba Avenue was covered by Pinatubo (IRE) last spring.
Valour Road is one of 19 stakes-winners and is the standout performer for two-season shuttler Frost Giant (USA).
A Grade 1 winning son of Giant's Causeway (USA), Frost Giant (USA) did not return after covering a book of 59 mares at Yarradale in 2014. The 43 live foals from that crop included Valour Road.
