War Hero, one of the most expensive colts out of last year’s Easter sale resumes racing on Friday, after a long break and change of stable, in a $20,000 Muswellbrook maiden.
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However new trainer John Ramsey, who also manages Turangga Farm at Scone where War Hero was bred, hopes this race, the Gold Sponsors Club Three Year Old Maiden (1000m), will be the first step to much greater riches.
“He is forward enough to win this but I wouldn’t say he is very forward,” Ramsey said.
“There is a long way to go after this race but exactly where I am not sure yet.
“I will have to sleep on it.”
War Hero is by Sepoy out of the Canny Lad mare Ancient Song, the winner of the Group Two Light Fingers at Warwick Farm in 2001 and the Group One Salinger at Flemington in 2003.
He is from Sepoy’s first crop and the most expensive yearling by a first season sire.
James Harron paid $1.6 million for War Hero and set up a syndicate to race the colt with Turangga retaining a 10 percent share.
The colt was sent to Peter and Paul Snowden and made his debut in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington last November finishing fourth, beaten 3.35 lengths.
“It was a good run because he was a bit shin sore,” Ramsey said.
War Hero has not raced since then but has had two lets ups, one spell and four trials including an easy hit out, his first for Ramsey, when second in a trial at Scone on September 9.
He was ridden by Kody Nestor who retains the ride in the maiden.
“Kody said he could have won but he did not want to knock him about,” Ramsey said.
“In July it was decided that perhaps the horse needed a change of environment so he came up to me.
“I’m a bush boy, he’s a bush boy because he was bred up here and he has thrived since he came home.
“He has developed and matured although I think he still has a bit of growing to do.”
Ancient Song has a Sepoy yearling colt and is back in foal to Sepoy again.
“The colt will go to the Easter sales next year and that’s why I am putting so much work into this horse,” Ramsey said.
“It could be the difference between $1 million and $200,000.”
Meanwhile Muswellbrook’s former secretary-manager, Helen Sinclair, will be honoured before the first race when she is presented with the Bede Thomas Award at a function in the members’ lounge.
The Bede Thomas is the Hunter and North West Association’s prestigious award for services to racing in that area and will be presented by the association’s chairman, Rod Watt.
