13th Group One Winner for Encosta
11th October 2008
Champion sire Encosta de Lago added a new Group One winner to his ever-growing tally when tough stayer Douro Valley (7g Encosta de Lago x Opaque, by Lord Seymour) out-slugged his rivals to claim the Group One MRC Yalumba Stakes over 2000 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.Ridden a heady race by James Winks, the Danny O’Brien trained Douro Valley made the weight-for-age contest a true staying test when he took over a long way from home and refused to surrender with Pompeii Ruler finishing second a long neck away and Guillotine (4h Montjeu x Refused the Dance, by Defensive Play) in third place.
It was a career best performance for seven year-old Douro Valley, who finished second in the Group One MRC Caulfield Cup last year and boasts the overall record of eight wins and 14 placings from 48 starts with prizemoney of $1.1 million.
“We’ve been very happy with the way the horse has been going in this preparation and the aim was to have him peaking for today, going into next week,” O’Brien said.
“He’s fit and flying, so we thought he was going to run a big race and he’s won, it’s terrific.”
Runner up in the Group One SAJC Derby as a three year-old, Douro Valley has been somewhat of a late bloomer and has again struck form at the right time of year which will delight his large group of owners as they prepare for another tilt at the Caulfield Cup next Saturday.
Retained to race by his breeders, Douro Valley is the second foal of the Lord Seymour mare Opaque, who is also the dam of stakes-winner Stellamac as the result of a mating with Mull of Kintyre.
Douro Valley is the 13th Group One winner for Coolmore heavyweight Encosta de Lago, who had a Group One double last weekend with Princess Coup and Newport.
