It is always nice to win a race at home, even more meaningful during these testing times – and it was a great pleasure to cheer home Give Val A Ring to a deserved victory in the BM58 1400m contest at Ballarat on Monday.
Suited by a rise in distance and a drop in grade, the daughter of Sebring relished the heavy conditions and was always travelling well on pace for Luke Nolen.
Outside the leader for most of the race, Give Val A Ring had some chasing to do in the straight but she knuckled down gamely – getting clear late to salute by 3/4 length.
“I was a bit nervous when she gave up the lead,” Mitch admitted, “but Luke knows what he is doing!”
“She is only a little filly but she does carry a bit of condition – she is a very good doer and it takes a bit of racing to get her right.”
A two times winner from just seven starts, Give Val A Ring caught Mitch’s eye at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Bred by Segenhoe Stud, she is out of the Gr.3 winning Lonhro mare Deer Valley whose four to race are all winners including the city winners Deer Mountain and Buck Bay.
Served last spring by Trapeze Artist having produced a Dissident colt in mid-October, Deer Valley can claim one of the legends of the Australian turf amongst her relations – the triple W.S Cox Plate winner Kingston Town.
