Valour on the Road to Gold Rush after taking Lark Hill heat on Monday morning

$1.8 million earner Valour Road continues to belie his age, taking a 950m trial at Lark Hill on Monday morning as he treads towards the $1.5 million Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 14. Nine days earlier, the gelding had burst clear with 300m remaining in the Carbine Club Stakes before being cut down over the last 30m by Aztec Ruler in a typically brave effort. On Monday, the nine-year-old began fairly and settled in fifth place, while speedy sprinter and former stablemate Lexington City dashed to the front. He immediately latched onto the coattails of Iowa - another of Simon Miller’s gallopers - ahead of him and closed up on the leaders to be only two lengths from the pace on straightening. As Iowa moved to challenge Lexington City, hoop Clint Johnston-Porter inched Valour Road to the outside to begin his run and was soon on top of the front-runners. Under pressure, Iowa responded purposefully and pushed his more brilliant stablemate all the way to the post, though this time Valour Road gained the ascendancy over the final 30m to edge to victory. The son of Frost Giant is a previous champion of his target race in 2021, though that was before it was revamped and was worth a comparatively paltry $200,000 and known as the A J Scahill Stakes. He missed the 2022 edition, but ripped home from last on the turn to finish sixth behind Munhamek in 2023 after still having no other runner behind him cornering in at the 350m. Stable representative Kelly Kinninmont was delighted to see the prized gelding return to form Saturday week ago and said the 42-start veteran was in the right headspace. “He was super. He just hit the front a little early and floated a bit, but he had a good trial today,” Kinninmont said. “He had a nice hit-out and he’ll go into The Gold Rush. “He’s such a happy horse. As he’s got older, he’s become really happy in the stable and working, and enjoyed the trip down to Lark Hill.” The sprightly performance of stayer Iowa, who finished runner-up in both the Boulder and Kalgoorlie Cups through September and early October, was more than encouraging as the seven-year-old aims at the Listed $125,000 ATA Stakes (2200m) on December 18. “Brad was really impressed with him today. He just had a good hit-out and will go into the ATA,” Kinninmont said. Generosity, who flashed home to win for Miller on Saturday, has now been sent for a break. A late entry has been provided for Miller’s three-year-old Flower Of Gold for the $1.5 million TABtouch Northerly Stakes (1800m) this weekend after she rocketed from last to finish a length fourth in the WA Guineas. However, the filly still faces an anxious wait to receive a start being only the second emergency.