WAGGA breeder-owner Doug Walker is hoping to secure a Kosciuszko berth with his lightly-raced sprinter Valiant.
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Walker has a team of a dozen broodmares that he breeds from each year, as well as race several gallopers across the country.
It was his $11,000 online purchase, Valiant, that has him most excited with the six-year-old having won three of his four race starts.
The son of I Am Invincible was a $1.6 million yearling purchase, that was sold online after winning his maiden at Hawkesbury at his second start.
That is where Walker picked up the colt cheap, and sent him for a wind operation, removal of a bone chip and a gelding procedure.
Ten months in the paddock did Valiant the world of good, where he then won his first two starts for former Albury trainer Stephen Wise, who is now based at Murwillumbah.
His last win in the $50,000 Untamed Showcase Sprint (1210m) was impressive, winning comfortably and in good time.
Valiant has been for a spell and will return to the track on Wednesday week. Walker hopes it is not too late to catch the eye of Kosciuszko slot holders.
"He's going to race next Wednesday at Lismore, the 23rd, if he wins that and runs a good time, if there's any slots left by then, hopefully they pick him up," Walker said.
"His times are good and he's beaten some pretty handy horses. If he holds together, it will be good.
"Ideally, in a perfect world, he would have had a race two weeks ago but he had a setback.
"Steve reckons he's a four or five lengths better horse than he was last year.
"It's been exciting, there's no doubt about that."
It has been a good period for Walker, who bred his first city winner last month.
So Say Angel, a So You Think mare out of the well-bred Holy One, won her second start at Morphettville. She has since come out and won again at Gawler.
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