However, new trainer John Ramsey, who also manages Turangga Farm at Scone where War Hero was bred, hopes this race, the Gold Sponsors Club Three Year Old Maiden (1000m), will be the first step to much greater riches.

“He is forward enough to win this but I wouldn’t say he is very forward,” he said.

“There is a long way to go after this race but exactly where I am not sure yet.

“I will have to sleep on it.”

War Hero is by Sepoy out of the Canny Lad mare Ancient Song, the winner of the Group Two Light Fingers at Warwick Farm in 2001 and the Group One Salinger at Flemington in 2003.

He is from Sepoy’s first crop and the most expensive yearling by a first season sire.

James Harron paid $1.6m for War Hero and set up a syndicate to race the colt with Turangga retaining a 10 per cent share.

The colt was sent to Peter and Paul Snowden and made his debut in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington last November finishing fourth, beaten 3.35 lengths.

“It was a good run because he was a bit shin sore,” Ramsey said.

War Hero has not raced since then but has had two lets ups, one spell and four trials including an easy hit out, his first for Ramsey, when second in a trial at Scone on September 9.

He was ridden by Kody Nestor who retains the ride in the maiden.

“Kody said he could have won but he did not want to knock him about,” Ramsey said.

“In July it was decided that perhaps the horse needed a change of environment so he came up to me.

“I’m a bush boy, he’s a bush boy because he was bred up here and he has thrived since he came home.

“He has developed and matured although I think he still has a bit of growing to do.”

Ancient Song has a Sepoy yearling colt and is back in foal to Sepoy again.

“The colt will go to the Easter sales next year and that’s why I am putting so much work into this horse,” Ramsey said.

“It could be the difference between $1m and $200,000.”

Meanwhile, Muswellbrook’s former secretary-manager Helen Sinclair will be honoured before the first race when she is presented with the Bede Thomas Award at a function in the members’ lounge.

The Bede Thomas is the Hunter and North West Association’s prestigious award for services to racing in that area and will be presented by the association’s chairman, Rod Watt.

It was to have been presented at the Moree Cup meeting but she could not get there.

“No one deserves it more than Helen for her contribution to racing in this area over many years and her wealth of knowledge,” Muswellbrook’s general manager Duane Dowell said.

“Helen was secretary/manager at Scone and led the development of the famous Scone carnival before coming to Muswellbrook and developing this club into one of the leading country clubs in the state.

“She has since filled in or helped at several clubs on a part-time basis since her so called retirement and is doing just that the moment at Tamworth.

“There is no more respected person in country racing than Helen.”

1 - 1.05pm, BENGALLA MINING MAIDEN, 1750m: KING’S MEN 1, Ti Tan Tiger 2, Biscuit 3, Our Gracious Betty 4

2 - 1.40pm, GOLD SPONSORS CLUB 3YO MAIDEN, 1000m: WAR HERO 1, Front Running 2, Star Princess 3, Big Ben The Clock 4

3 - 2.15pm, MT ARTHUR COAL MAIDEN, 1450m: MISTER MARMALADE 1, Cascata Rossa 2, How Sweet It Is 3, Orezira 4

4 - 2.55pm, UPPER HUNTER TURF SUPPLIES BENCHMARK 60, 1280m: IWATANI 1, Eyezoff 2, Intrepido 3, Ready Set Sing 4

5 - 3.35pm, HELEN SINCLAIR-BEDE THOMAS AWARD CLASS THREE, 1500m: COLLINS STREET 1, John D’Non 2, Jimarni 3, Der Meister 4

6 - 4.10pm, WALLERAWANG ENGINEERING CLASS TWO, 1000m: AKASAKI 1, Jamming 2, Sapience 3, Zooming 4

7 - 4.50pm, TAB.COM.AU BENCHMARK 65, 1000m: MOSSMAN’S GOLD 1, Lucky Nic 2, Scratch Me Lucky 3, Annatime 4

8 - 5.25pm, 25TH NOVEMBER IS CUP DAY CLASS ONE, 1280m: BLACK PLATINUM 1, Magic Panther 2, Whirlwind Ascent 3, Envision 4

Best bets: Mister Marmalade, Mossman’s Gold