VALILEE OVERCOMES SERIOUS ISSUES FOR STUNNING DEBUT WIN

JUST about everything that could go wrong did!

So Gosford trainer Jake Hull and owner John O’Connor were entitled to feel absolutely chuffed when rising five-year-old Valilee made a stunning late beginning to his career on his home track yesterday.

Purchased by O’Connor’s Feale Park Racing for $80,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic yearling sale in Sydney, there was a real possibility the son of 2014 Cox Plate winner Adelaide would never even make it to the racetrack.

Former jockey Hull, only in his third season of training, underscored his talent when he produced Valilee ($3.60) to trounce his rivals in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m).

Ridden by Mitchell Bell, Valilee romped home by more than four lengths from Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s $31 roughie Blue Suede Hooves and Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s $2 favorite You’re The Choice.

The runner-up was cleared to start after a pre-race vet examination, and began awkwardly, which resulted in his rider Serg Lisnyy’s left foot making significant contact with the barrier partition.

Lisnyy then rode with some discomfort throughout the race.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Hull last night, revealing the series of issues that have occurred with Valilee and threatened to end the gelding’s career before it even began.

“Valilee suffered a stress fracture as a two-year-old, and then fractured his skill in an incident on the water walker.

“When we did get him going, he could hardly breathe.

“We found out he was a Grade 4 roarer and needed throat surgery to correct the problem.

“I always knew he could gallop, and that’s why I persevered.

“Full credit to John (O’Connor) who was prepared to be patient for so long.

“I was so pleased to win first-up with this horse for him.

“I was super confident he could win on debut, and couldn’t wait to let him show what he had.

“Mitchell (Bell) rode him in an 800m Maiden trial at Hawkesbury 12 days ago, and said he would go anywhere to ride him in a race.

“I was hoping Valilee would have a quiet trial that day, but he won by nearly 12 lengths.

“He is a very nice horse, and importantly pulled up well after the race.”

Valilee was Hull’s 33^rd career winner, and the trainer’s 11^th success this season.

O’Connor had hoped to name the gelding, who is the fifth foal of six times winner Bec Said No Credit, after Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, often referred to as the father of modern science.

“I couldn’t get Galileo (the famed Irish racehorse and stallion), and was able to call him Valilee,” O’Connor explained.

Hull meanwhile was pleased with the first-up performance of stable newcomer Flying Crazy in last Wednesday’s Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton.

“I thought he ran well for where he was at,” he said.

“He has travelled home and pulled up well, and there is a very suitable Class 6 Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm on August 2 we will aim at.”

. Fellow Gosford trainer Greg McFarlane was the other provincial winner at his home meeting – with a horse who has returned to his stable.

Orthies ($7), ridden by Robbie Downey, landed the CG&E Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

McFarlane trialled the three-year-old son of Pierata twice last October (for a Muswellbrook win and Rosehill Gardens second) before he was transferred to a Sydney stable.

Orthies won at Goulburn in March on debut and was placed there and at Kembla Grange before rejoining McFarlane’s team.

After sitting behind the leaders, he got into clear running after straightening and overhauled Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s Harlex ($4.20 joint favorite), who made a brave attempt to lead throughout.

Story John Curtis, July 20, 2025 - Pics Gosford Race Club