Brilliant Equiano two year-old Valliano has upped the ante for his younger sister at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale with a potent victory in the RL Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield.

Resuming after a three-month spell on Saturday, the Lindsay Park youngster settled midfield before launching a powerful sprint to win the $250,000 sales-related race by two lengths from Curvature (Snitzel) and Lessyd (Statue Of Liberty).

Swettenham Stud sold Valliano for $60,000 at last year’s Melbourne Premier yearling sale and his younger sister is scheduled to go under the hammer as Lot 624 at Oaklands on March 2.

The filly’s value will increase again if Valliano wins the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes back at Caulfield on February 27.  “We didn’t buy him for a two-year-old campaign,” Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig said. “But every time we have tested him, he’s done incredibly well.

“We’ve had a bit of luck in the Blue Diamond with horses that settle and hit the line full of running – just like Valliano did today.  The Blue Diamond is a high-pressure race and on-pace horses can come unstuck.”

The TAB reacted by firmed Valliano into $21 for the Blue Diamond following his dominant victory.

Equiano (Fr) shuttles to Swettenham Stud and his Group 1 candidate is from the Leon Corstens trained mare Miss Valley Road (Elusive Quality) who won twice at the provincials before retiring to Swettenham.

She foaled another Equiano colt in October and was bred then back to Swettenham’s Group 1 newcomer Toronado.

Equiano is a Top 10 sire on the Australian second-season premiership with 15 individual winners of $564,883 and he has 7 yearlings entered for Melbourne Premier.

VALLIANO
Photo / Slickpix