Racing: Sir Valiant right at home at Te Rapa

Jon Miller doesn't mind travelling Sir Valiant from his Pukekohe stable to race - particularly when that venue is Te Rapa racecourse in Hamilton.

The Miller-trained 6-year-old has quickly developed a reputation as a course specialist at Te Rapa, as the hot favourite Al Jameel found out yesterday in the $16,000 Rich Hill Stud 1600.

Al Jameel appeared to have the race well under control when striding to the front with 200m remaining but was gunned down over the closing stages of the race by the fast-finishing Sir Valiant, who got up to win by a long head.

A further 3/4 of a length away in third position was Bon Ace.

This was the fourth win from 14 starts at Te Rapa for Sir Valiant, on top of three minor placings.

"Sir Valiant just loves racing here at Te Rapa and that's clearly underlined by his course stats," said Miller.

"With the closure of the Pukekohe track I've had to transport all my horses into Takanini for their training runs and I think that has helped sharpen this horse up.

"I've also employed jockey Peter Fearon to work for me over the past month and his experience and guidance riding the horses in trackwork has also helped.

"It really helps having the opinion of a jockey like Peter to talk things over with on a daily basis as he rides all of my team that is in training.

"This horse does like the sting out of the track so he's only going to get better as the track conditions get worse over the winter racing period."

Lucky Tip made it back-to-back steeplechase wins when coasting to an impressive victory in the $12,000 jumping feature.

The 8-year-old led for the closing lap of the 4000m open steeplechase and scored by a length over the fast-closing Deceit with a further 32 lengths back to Titus (third).

The Kevin Myers-trained jumper recorded a similar effort when successful in a steeplechase event at Wellington last Saturday.

The firm track conditions proved difficult for punters to get a line on the leading contenders for the feature jumps day at Te Rapa on May 21.

The Ecolab Waikato Steeplechase and Dunstan Feeds Waikato Hurdles will be held at Te Rapa although a number of trainers will be hoping for a heavier track on that date as opposed to the firm conditions that were struck yesterday.

High-class 2-year-old Darci Brahma overcame carrying the topweight of 58.5kg to post an effortless victory in the Hinuera Lodge Juvenile.

The $1.1 million yearling purchase settled perfectly just off the pace by jockey Lisa Cropp and lengthened stride impressively in the home stretch to score by a length over Sandspirit and Spare The Detail (third).

"Darci Brahma got the job done today and he did what was required with a big weight on his back," said trainer Mark Walker.

"He really didn't over-extend himself and he has pulled up well after the race. He'll now fly to Brisbane on May 20 for a two-race campaign; the Sires Produce Stakes and the T J Smith Stakes.

"I will tip him out for a two to three-week spell while he's up in Brisbane as the winter conditions in Queensland may be a bit kinder to him than the Waikato winter.

"I'm really impressed with the way he has matured and strengthened up since he last raced in the Sires Produce Stakes at Ellerslie on March 5.

"He's really put on a lot of muscle on his body [25 kilograms] and the run today will only improve his fitness levels before we travel him to Brisbane.

"He's only had four race starts for three wins and a second placing and the trip away to Brisbane will be a good experience for him particularly if we want to race him in Australia next season."

Queensland-based jockey Scott Seamer has been engaged to ride Darci Brahma in both Group One feature events at Eagle Farm on June 4 and 16.

The Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) is worth A$250,000 and the T J Smith 2-Year-Old Stakes (1600m) A$500,000.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY