Land Of Valens wins at Bathurst

The Gerald Ryan-trained Land Of Valens (2 g ex A Country Girl by Singspiel) ran out a ready winner on debut of the Central West Elect Gold Nugget 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Bathurst on Thursday and in the process became Cornerstone Stud-based sire Valentia’s (Fastnet Rock) first winner. 

The two-year-old gelding powered home to beat Delacour (Magic Albert) by two lengths with another three-quarters of a length back to Titan Star (Rubick) in third. 

Bred by Cornerstone Stud, the gelding was purchased for by Colm Santry for $40,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, before selling to his trainer for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale the following year, which is the highest price achieved by any progeny of the sire in a sales ring. 

Land Of Valens is out of Group 3-winning Singspiel (In The Wings) mare A Country Girl, making him a three-quarters brother to three-time winner My Song (Your Song) and a half-brother to one other winner. 

A Country Girl herself is out of Listed winner Verdict Declared (Mr Henrysee) - who also produced the dam of Group 3 winner Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs). 

Further back this is the family of Group 1 winner Mr Innocent (Mr Henrysee). 

Valentia will stand at Cornerstone Stud for a fee of $5,500 (inc GST) in 2020.