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| Sumita Pawar |
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Valiant Force, the winner of the Gr.2 Norfolk Stakes at Ascot Racecourse, was bred by Ramon "RJ" Rangel, an assistant yearling manager at Spendthrift Farm.
The owner of Vigui's Heart, Valiant Force's dam, who is an unraced Quality Road mare, intends to earn another payout this year from the sales.
Vigui's Heart: A Breeding Gem
After producing a graded stakes winner in Valiant Force, Vigui's Heart, who is now carrying a foal sired by Vekoma, has significantly increased in value as a broodmare. Her latest offspring, a filly by Mitole and half-sibling to Valiant Force, has also added to her worth.
Following the race at Royal Ascot, Rangel has received numerous offers from potential buyers for the mare, but he is still considering them. He obtained Vigui's Heart as a young filly from Mill Ridge Sales.
"Her weanling, I'm going to put her in (a November sale). She's a very nice, lovely filly," he said. "And I'm thinking about the mare, whether to run her through the sale alongside the weanling or get the Vekoma and try to breed her back to (a sire) people from Europe will like and from the United States. … Right now, I'm still emotional, trying to think about all these decisions."
When entering a foal-share agreement, the mare owner provides access to their mare while the stallion owner provides access to a breeding season, allowing breeders to delay payment of stud fees until the foal is sold.
Rangel said he "obviously couldn't afford" up-front payment to have Malibu Moon breed to his mare, noting the stallion stood for $50,000.
"Without these people trying to help the little guys, I probably wouldn't be talking today with you," he added.
Valiant Force Shocks Royal Ascot
Adrian Murray, the trainer who had brought only three horses to the event, had already experienced some success with Bucanero Fuerte finishing third in the Coventry Stakes earlier in the week, but he could not have imagined such a stunning outcome.
“I can’t believe it. I fell into racing by accident – a friend of mine got me involved,” beamed Murray. “It's magic. We were third here on Monday and I wondered if that would ever happen again.
“We knew he was a nice horse and I couldn’t believe the price - he was only beaten less than a length by His Majesty first time out. It didn't make sense - I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s great for the small man.”
Despite this, jockey Rossa Ryan was not surprised by the result and saw it as a chance for redemption after finishing as runner-up on Persian Force the previous year.
Ryan had also recently stepped down as the number one jockey for Amo Racing, owned by football agent Kia Joorabchian.
“To be fair to the lads, they were confident he would run a big race,” said Ryan, who also tasted success aboard Jimi Hendrix on Wednesday. “He jumped well and did everything right - he was just in a rhythm and when I took a lead off Kevin [Stott on Thunder Blue] outside the two, I was always in a rhythm.
Rangel's Dilemma: To Sell Or Breed?
Valiant Force was sold as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for US$75,000 to J.R.L. 3 Racing.
The following year, Eaton Sales sold the colt as a yearling for US$100,000 to Robson Aguiar and Roger O'Callaghan.
He was then taken overseas and ran second on debut at the Curragh before finishing fifth in the Marble Hill Stakes Gr.3 for owners AMO Racing, Mrs. Roger O'Callaghan, and G. De Aguiar and trainer Adrian Murray.
Rangel, who obtained Vigui's Heart as a young filly from Mill Ridge Sales, is considering whether to run her through the sale alongside her weanling or breed her back to a sire that people from Europe and the United States will like.