A former member of champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s operation will attempt to win a Group One race for a local stable at Caulfield.
Spirit Of Valor will contest the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, his third run for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace partnership.
The six-year-old was part of a trio of sprinters O’Brien brought to Melbourne for last year’s spring carnival.
Spirit Of Valour was the best performed of the team finishing second in the Schillaci Stakes, behind Ball Of Muscle, and second in the Group One Manikato Stakes at The Valley to Brave Smash.
He wound up his spring campaign running sixth up the straight at Flemington in the VRC Sprint Classic.
Now trained out of Maher and Eustace’s Caulfield stable, Spirit Of Valor has started twice this campaign.
He finished fifth over 1000m in the Norman Carlyon Stakes at The Valley before third behind The Inevitable in the Chandler McLeod Stakes at that track on September 7.
Eustace said Saturday’s 1400m Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes had been a target race for Spirit Of Valor after the horse entered their stable.
“He really pleased us the other day,” Eustace said.
“He raced really well second-up over 1200 metres at The Valley. He had a big weight that day and we think in a handicap over 1400 metres it will suit him.
“He should really like Caulfield and the race has been a long-range target for him for quite a while and third-up he should be bang-on.
“He’s thriving.”
Eustace said they had yet to sort out a rider for Spirit Of Valor, expecting him to get a middle of the range weight.