Deserving of victory, three-year-old filly Angels Wings (Heroic Valour) took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares (1300m) at Cambridge of Wednesday for trainer Mark Walker.
Angel Wings had placed in four of her eight starts and showed her appreciation for the firmer surface of the polytrack when bouncing back from a last-start failure on a heavy turf surface.
Angels Wings parked just behind the leaders and responded well to the urgings of jockey Opie Bosson to get the better of her rivals over the concluding stages.
“It was a well-deserved win, she seemed to handle the surface well and a really nice ride by Opie,” Walker said.
“She’s been consistent for a long time and it’s great to see her breakthrough for John Galvin (Fortuna Thoroughbreds) and all of the owners.
Notably, Angel Wings provided the first win for her sire, Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), in New Zealand, while kicking goals in Queensland, where he stands at Raheen Stud, sitting within the top 15 Second Season Sires in Australia, after finishing fifth on the First Season Sires list.
Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM purchased Heroic Valour as a yearling at Karaka, and known for his consistency at top level he was rewarded with victory in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
“There has been a lot of talk by trainers about the progeny of Heroic Valour and they’ve got them going very well,” Ellis said. “And the trainers themselves are putting mares to him, which is a very good sign.
“I liked him (Heroic Valour) enormously as a yearling and bought him for our breeding syndicate.
“He was very professional, had a sensational temperament and a beautifully relaxed demeanour and we rated him one of the best Fastnet Rock colts in the sale.”
Walker sent out a double, with three-year-old filly Aequus, a daughter of Iffraaj, breaking maiden ranks for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela.
