Richard The shows plenty of heart

Well named three-year-old Richard The - a son of Lion Heart - impressed winning his maiden in determined fashion at Benalla on Monday.

Having only his third start the promising gelding appreciated a step in distance to 1400m and was always travelling well behind the leader for Luke Currie.

"He showed nice speed from his good draw," Currie reported, "and we are able to box-seat."

Confident during the running, Currie was pleased when Richard The knuckled down over the final stages - "he was strong late," he said.

"His first two runs this time in were good and he struck a pretty strong maiden last start," said Michael Moroney who was not surprised to see Richard The break through in such good fashion.

"He is still learning," he said, "but he is improving at each run and we thought he would prove hard to beat."

A $75,000 purchase for Paul Moroney at the 2011 William Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Richard The is raced by R & C Legh Racing, Ballymore Stables (Australia), Dr John Kennedy, Harold & Carol C Hansen, Wayne & Lynette Reddaway and the ARK Syndicate.

By triple Group One winner Lion Heart, Richard The is a half-brother to the South African stakes winner Soweto Slew and the metropolitan winners King Of Slew, Mr Good Cat, Able Marshall and Celebrity Rose.

He hails from a strong international family whose members include the successful stallion Oratorio and the outstanding American galloper Alydar.