Chiefswood Stable homebred Heathcote made every pole a winning one to capture Sunday’s Grade 3, $177,700 Valedictory Stakes, the final stakes event of Woodbine’s 2012 thoroughbred season.
The son of Niigon, trained by Paul Attard and ridden expertly by Emma-Jayne Wilson, put away Quaesitor at the top of the lane and galloped home a 12 1/4-length winner over Peyton to take the 1 3/4-mile marathon.
Heathcote notched three-quarters of a mile in 1:16.16, as the five-year-old gelding passed the wire for the first time with Quaesitor on his tail. Wilson, and Heathcote, maintained a narrow lead over Quaesitor the length of the backstretch, with the rest of the nine-horse field well in arrears.
Entering the final turn, Heathcote improved his lead and had plenty in reserve to complete the event in 2:59.42. Peyton rallied to be second, 1 3/4-lengths in front of Quaesitor.
Wilson was confident the lanky dark bay was up to the task.
“He is a big horse with a big, long stride,” said Wilson. “We knew the mile and three-quarters wasn’t going to hurt him at all, and when I got him just cruising along with his ears up the whole way, I thought it would take a race horse to beat him.”
In fact, the veteran jock believes Heathcote could have travelled even further.
“He just started getting going at the three-eighths pole,” grinned Wilson. “No matter how good they are, and how much they handle that distance, they do seem to get a little tired. But, he would have went around again.”
Heathcote banked $108,000 in victory, improving his career record to four wins and two seconds from six starts.
He paid $14, $5.80 and $4.50, combining with Peyton ($4.20, $3.60) for a $66.10 exactor. Quaesitor ($4) completed a $373.70 triactor. A $1 superfecta (Attendant) returned $1,118.80.
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