THE MIGHT AND POWER OF MUSTANG VALLEY
 

With the same big action as her close relative Might And Power (Zabeel), the similarities don’t end there for 2YO Vanbrugh filly Mustang Valley, such an impressive first-crop winner for her sire at Te Rapa on Saturday.
 

Starting a hot favourite at the weekend, Mustang Valley was winning at just her third start following a debut run for second and close fourth placed effort in the Listed Auckland Futurity Stakes at Ellerslie a fortnight earlier.
 
Mustang Valley is the first foal from the New Approach (Galileo) mare Cream Of The Crop, a close who relative to World Champion Stayer and dual Australian Horse Of The Year Might And Power.
 
Following winning in the Autumn at his third 2YO start in Sydney, Might And Power went on to become the champion racehorse of his era, with his seven Group One wins including the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.
 
So as breeders of Might And Power, Windsor Park Stud were naturally attracted to Cream Of The Crop when she came up for sale.

“We were looking to buy a few nicely bred young mares to send to Vanbrugh (Encosta De Lago) in his first season at Windsor Park”’ said Schick.
 
“Vanbrugh is a particularly good type, very strong bodied and correct with a great temperament so he fitted well with the natural athleticism Cream Of The Crop has.
 
“We also liked the genetic background of the mating as we were linebreeding directly back to Benediction, Might And Power’s dam, who also features in Vanbrugh so the mating was a bit like a homecoming for us”.
 
Windsor Park’s connection to the family doesn’t end there either. Benediction comes from the same family as Windsor Park’s former great sire Star Way (Star Appeal), broodmare sire of Champion Encosta De lago, the sire of Vanbrugh.
 
Like Mustang Valley, Vanbrugh was an Autumn 2YO winner himself before becoming Sydney’s dominant Spring 3YO when successful in the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes prior to winning the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick, a route successfully negotiated by Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel).

Mustang Valley is Vanbrugh’s first winner on the track from just a handful of 2YO runners to date, confirming the form of her previous excellent runs for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman who hold the filly in high regard.
 
Forsman believes Mustang Valley will develop into a high-class three-year-old in her next preparation.
 
“Mustang Valley has always looked a promising filly but not really a natural two-year-old,” he said.
 
“She has a big, strong action and is quite physically mature for her age, but when she does strengthen up fully, she will be a very smart horse.”
 
“She can go to the paddock for a short break and then we will start getting her ready for some of those better three-year-old races in the Spring.
 
Schick is also looking forward to the Spring with Mustang Valley who he part owns with a syndicate of friends and racing enthusiasts.
 
“While she holds a number of similarities with Might And Power, if she can go on to emulate just a fraction of what he achieved on the racetrack we’ll be in for an exciting time so bring on the Spring”, said Schick.