Barossa Valley (R5 Chukyo, Newcomer, 2000m, September 25) 

Trainer Tomazaku Takano has had a job to do when it comes to keeping a handle on two-year-old Barossa Valley but the filly’s undoubted talent showed at Chukyo. 

Thrown in at 2000m on debut the daughter of Heart’s Cry put aside some of her ‘mercurial’ tendencies to storm past odds-on race favourite Silver Armour. 

Takano seems to have a knack with fillies; he prepared dual Group 1 winner Shonan Pandora (2014 Shuka Sho, 2015 Japan Cup) and more recently last year’s Osaka Hai heroine Lei Papale.

Barossa Valley burst out of midfield for jockey Yuichi Kitamura and finished off in 34.2 seconds for her final 600 metres. 

“She was good today,” Kitamura said of the filly’s demeanour. “I think she was a talented horse. It was huge to win in her debut and I hope she can keep calm and continue to grow in future.”

Geraldina (R11 Nakayama, G2 Sankei Sho All Comers, 2200m, September 25) 

There was something about this win that suggested that top level success might not be far away for Sunday Racing’s first stakes winner out of adored racemare Gentildonna and it could come in November’s Queen Elizabeth Cup. 

Maybe it was the way jockey Takeshi Yokoyama patiently waited for the straight and then allowed Geraldina to unleash late, but the sight of the Sunday Racing silks flying home certainly brought back fond memories of the winner’s dam, an all-time great. 

It was Yokoyama’s first ride on the filly and he revealed after the race that he had tapped rival rider Yuichi Fukunaga for some insight about the daughter of Maurice. 

“I asked him about her characteristics before this race and worked out a plan,” Yokayama said. “Gate two meant we could execute the plan well and she can stay in an ideal position after jumping out from the gate. The result was better than I thought.”