Hero posts first winning strike

A half-brother to a prized member of Waikato Stud’s broodmare band has crowned the promising start he has made to his career.

Hollywood Hero placed at his first three starts before he opened his winning account this afternoon in stylish fashion over 1600 metres at Warwick Farm.

The colt was taken straight to the front and, after cruising clear 100 metres from home, gave apprentice Dylan Gibbons an easy ride to the post to score in a canter.

“The blinkers switched him on as he hasn’t executed as he can and he did today,” stable representative Luke Hilton said.

“He’s got a staying pedigree and we’ve always thought he could get out to a trip so it was good to see him get that mile box ticked.

“He was a fit horse and did a really good job so hopefully he will go on with it.”

The son of the late Sacred Falls is out of the Savabeel mare Movie, whose first foal is the G1 Flight S. winner and G1 Spring Champion S. runner-up Never Been Kissed.

She carried the Matamata farm’s colours during her successful racing career and following her retirement last year visited the Group 1 producer Maurice.

Hollywood Hero was also bred by Waikato Stud and principal Mark Chittick has remained in the ownership after he was purchased by Baker for $600,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where he was offered by Ohukia Lodge.