Poignant victory

Sole Heir (Exceed And Excel) posted an emotional victory at Hawkesbury where the free-running colt was untested to post a breakthrough success at his fourth appearance.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, he headed straight to the front and was never headed to lead home a stable quinella with Marcassin (Spirit Of Boom) second in the Group Mounties 2YO Mdn.

Sole Heir was ridden by Tim Clark, who sported the colours of the late Eduardo Cojuangco, the Philipine businessman who established the highly-successful Gooree Park breeding and racing operation.

Among the flagship performers for Cojuangco, who passed away last week at 85, were six-time Group 1 winner Desert War (Desert King {Ire}), ill-fated stallion Northern Meteor and the G1 Australian Derby winner and sire Don Eduardo (NZ).

Sole Heir is a Gooree homebred and is a half-brother to the G2 Todman S. winner and sire Smart Missile and they are out of a half-sister to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Northern Meteor.

Timely success

Aleda (Dissident) produced a timely performance on the synthetic track at Ballarat on Tuesday when she won the Hygain H.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the filly was successful for the second time in her career and will be offered as Lot 108 by Widden Stud at next month’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Aleda is a daughter of Top Classic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who is a half-sister to the G2 Waikato Gold Cup winner and Group 1 placegetter Passchendaele (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}).

Track to suit

Group 1 performer Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) will be vying to nab an elusive black type victory when he contests the Listed WJ McKell Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.

The 5-year-old has placed at stakes level on five occasions, including the G1 Victoria Derby, G1 Spring Champion S. and the G2 Herbert Power S.

The gelding has been hampered by a few issues, but trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are excited to send their horse north to Sydney to contest the 2000 metre race on what is currently rated a Heavy 9 track.

“Sully will be going up to Sydney, unless something untoward happens,” Busuttin told Sky Sport Radio. “He is at a stage where he has been through the wars as a horse. His knees aren’t the best and he is crying out for a wet track.

“A wet track is what we will get in Sydney I would presume on Saturday and based on his work I think he will be right in amongst it.”

Oleksandra staying put

Team Valor International’s Oleksandra (Animal Kingdom {USA}), who came from last to defeat a field of males in Saturday’s GI Jaipur S. at Belmont, will not return to trainer Neil Drysdale’s Southern California base and will instead remain in New York.

The 5-year-old sustained a nick on a lower front limb, but is in good shape otherwise, according to a release from Team Valor’s Barry Irwin.

Oleksandra is headed toward the G3 Troy S. at Saratoga and the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, for which the Jaipur was a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier.

She was not an original nominee for the Breeders’ Cup, but was supplemented last week. She will then be offered at public auction.

“That will be her last race for Team Valor,” Irwin said. “She will be offered for sale after the Breeders’ Cup at an auction in Kentucky with an as-yet undetermined agent.”

Dettori called up

Frankie Dettori has been given the ride aboard G1 Investec Derby favourite English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) at Epsom on Saturday week, trainer Ed Walker has confirmed.

The 3-year-old stamped himself as a leading contender for the premier Classic with an impressive display in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial with Tom Marquand on board.

“Frankie is going to ride English King in the Derby. I feel desperately sorry for Tom, and it is absolutely no reflection of our faith and trust in his ability,” Walker said.

“Frankie obviously has a wealth of big-race experience and raises his game to stratospheric heights for the big races. We feel very privileged to have him on board.”

Smart trial

New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales-topping colt No Limits (NZ) (Savabeel) won his 900 metre heat at Tuesday’s Te Rapa trials.

“I thought that he trialled well over a short trip and carried a bit of weight with Opie (Bosson) on,” he said. “The slow ground was not really to his liking, but I think the biggest thing with this horse is that he’s going to want a mile fairly quickly,” trainer Jamie Richards said.

“He’s quite a big horse and has just needed time. He’s always battled a bit of soreness and immaturity in his front legs and all over, but he seems to be going well now.

“All going well, he could be ready to race in August at Taupo. He’s a pretty exciting colt with a top-class pedigree and looks.”

No Limits was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis out of Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka for NZ$1.4 million.

Improvement to come

Trainer Matthew Williams is expecting Harbour Views (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to strip fitter in his second start over a middle distance on Saturday.

The import won over 2040 metres at The Valley last time out in his first attempt beyond a mile and will be given a break after Saturday’s outing.

Further success would boost Harbour Views’ chances of a spring start in the G2 Feehan S., with the winner earning a ballot exemption into the G1 Cox Plate.

Stamina trump card

It’s not too often you hear two miles is short of a horse’s best distance, but that will be the case for Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag {USA}) when he contests the Stayer’s Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.

The 8-year-old gelding has been in hot form in Australia for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, winning his last five races, including The Jericho Cup and Grand Annual Steeplechase.

The Stayer’s Cup will be his first run since his winning effort in the marathon Warrnambool feature and the stable’s Sydney foreman Annabel Neasham believes he can continue his picket fence form line.

“Ablaze will contest the Stayer’s Cup and he is probably our best for the week,” she said. “He won the Jericho Cup and he won the Grand Annual over 5500 metres, so the 3200 metres is probably short of his best, but if it is a wet slog then that will be to his liking. "

Fighting spirit

Fighting Heart (Show A Heart) will make a remarkable comeback to racing when he runs in the Under The Louvre @ Grandview Stud H. at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Rising 13, he hasn’t raced since he finished fourth at Sha Tin in June, 2013 in Hong Kong where he won four races and more than $270,000.

Now trained by owner Katherine Gruenefeld, Fighting Heart recently trialled to the satisfaction of stewards and will undergo a further inspection before Wednesday’s race.

Dennis’ operation growing

Southland trainer Robert Dennis is bullish on the prospects of his growing team of horses despite the relocation of his best performer to Australia.

The 28-year-old confirmed Out Of The Park (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), the winner of the G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. has transferred to Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer.

“I think it is always disappointing to see a horse like that go, but you do have to be accepting that that’s the way it is,” he said.

The emerging trainer, who is in his fifth season of training, said he was pleased with the support he was receiving as his training operation develops.

“Only about three years ago I set up my first syndicate and now I am well over 100 owners and I have found myself a pretty good niche in the market down here,” he said. “I have no trouble getting new horses and new owners and there are a lot of benefits to training from the farm.”