Valentine Waltz

On her racecourse debut Valentine Waltz started the 6/4 for a maiden race over five furlongs at Cork Racecourse on 26 April but finished only fourth of the eleven runners behind Show Me The Money. Seventeen days later she went off favourite for a similar event at Navan Racecourse but was beaten again, coming home third behind the colts My Chief and Rainbows Forever. Despite her two defeats she was stepped up in class for the Listed Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on 23 May. Starting a 25/1 outsider she stayed on well in the closing stages to take third place behind Access All Areas and Coralita, beaten half a length by the winner.[5] The filly was dropped back to maiden class at the Curragh on 27 June but disappointed as she was beaten more than nine lengths into fourth place in a race won by Fear and Greed.

Shortly after her second defeat at the Curragh Valentine Waltz was transferred to England and joined the stable of John Gosden. On her first run for her new trainer the filly started 5/2 second choice for a seven furlong maiden at Brighton Racecourse on 30 September. Ridden by Daragh O'Donohoe she recorded her first victory as she led from the start and won "comfortably" by four lengths.[6] Ten days later at Doncaster Racecourse she finished strongly to take third place behind the colts Undeterred and Indiana Legend in the Listed Rockingham Stakes. On 17 October she was stepped up to Group 2 class for the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse and produced her best performance of the season. Starting a 20/1 outsider she overcame interference in the final furlong to finish second of the fourteen runners, beaten one and a quarter lengths by Hula Angel.

On 13 April Valentine Waltz was ridden by Frankie Dettori when she began her second campaign in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes (a trial race for the 1,000 Guineas) over seven furlongs at Newmarket and started the 7/2 favourites against ten opponents. After racing just behind the leaders she went to the front approaching the final furlong and accelerated away from her rivals to win by three lengths.[7] In the 1999 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on 2 May the filly was partnered by Ray Cochrane and went off at odds of 11/1 in a field of 22. Racing up the far side of the track, she briefly took the lead a furlong out but was headed in the closing stages and finished third, beaten half a length and a short head by Wince and Wannabe Grand who raced up the opposite side of the course.

Two weeks after her run in the Guineas Valentine Waltz was sent to contest the French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. With Cochrane again in the saddle she started the 4.3/1 third favourite behind Moiava (Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte) and Rangoon Ruby, while the best-fancied of the other eleven runners included Calando (May Hill Stakes), Comillas (Prix des Réservoirs) and Venize (Prix de la Grotte). After turning tinto the straight in seventh place, Valentine Waltz produced a strong late run, took the lead inside the last 200 metres, and won by two lengths from the 42/1 outsider Karmifira.[8] John Gosden commented "They went a cracking pace and I liked the way she won. She ran a grand race in the Guineas from a terrible draw... She is a tough little thing to come back and run like this after her hard race in the Guineas".[9]

At Royal Ascot on 16 June Valentine Waltz was partnered by Pat Eddery when she started second favourite for the Coronation Stakes. After being restrained in the early stages ahe finished well without being able to reach the lead and dead-heated for third with Wannabe Grand behind Balisada and Golden Silca. Valentine Waltz did not race again and was retired at the end of the year.