Pakenham-based trainer Andrea Leek is keeping alive the dream of Heir To The Throne (NZ) (Pentire) following in the footsteps of his older brother Prince Of Penzance (NZ).
Leek registered her first metropolitan success when Heir To The Throne took out the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Wednesday and disclosed post-race the stayer holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.
Prince Of Penzance raced into history when he won the Cup in 2015 with Michelle Payne aboard, who became the first female jockey to win the race.
Leek herself had a successful career in the saddle and won the 2004 Grand National Hurdle at Flemington aboard Team Heritage.
Heir To The Throne started his career with Henry Dwyer before Leek’s husband John purchased the gelding online for A$35,000.
After four starts with John Leek, Heir To The Throne was transferred into Andrea Leek’s care and was successful first-up at Sale.
Sent off the $4 favourite under Jamie Kah, Heir To The Throne scored by a short-head from Bondi Sands ($8.50) with Hezafox ($11) two lengths away third.
“We’ve put in a sneaky little nom for the Melbourne Cup,” Leek said.
“You never know, you’ve got to have dreams, that’s what our dream is but he’s already given us excitement by coming here and winning today.
“There’s a benchmark 78 at The Valley over 2500m coming up in a week-and-a-half and that’s our plan to go there.
“Then ideally, if he could win that, we would love to go to Flemington. It’s a big track and we could give him a chance to show what he’s got.
“The further he goes the better. The track today has dried out a fair bit and might have taken a bit of his brilliance from him, but he’s flying.”
