New Zealand trainer Leeane Poulson and owner/breeder John Williams lived out a dream on Saturday when Aruriteson raced to an all-the-way victory at Randwick.
“I’ve only ever had two horses race at Randwick before and I’ve had two seconds, once with Diamond Force and once with Athens who finished second to Lonhro (in the 2002 Hobartville Stakes),” Poulson said. 
“This is a dream for me to win a race at Randwick. And it’s a dream for John Williams to bring a horse over here and win as well.”
Aruriteson rolled along in front in the One Club, One ATC Membership Handicap (2400m) with jockey Kathy O’Hara following instructions to allow the dour stayer to make it a genuine staying test.
O’Hara quickened the tempo from a long way out and Aruriteson ($26) was able to hold off the late lunge from Peck ($3.20) to win by a short half-head with three quarters of a length to Telesmon ($5.50) in third place.
Poulson, who has six horses in work, only took over the training of five-year-old Aruriteson five starts ago and believed the son of Yamanin Vital had what it took to be competitive over the 2400m against the Sydney stayers.
The trainer now plans to return to headquarters again next year for the Group One Sydney Cup (3200m).
“I used to train this horse’s mother Arurite for John Williams and we had a great time with her,” Poulson said.
“She wasn’t as good as this horse but she’s a nice broodmare now.
“I’d like to think we can come back for the Sydney Cup next year with this horse (Aruriteson). This trip was to help him gain experience with that in mind.”
While the Sydney Cup is still a long way off, Poulson plans to stick around in Sydney for the rest of this month.
“We’ll stay here and he’ll run at Rosehill in a 2400-metre race (on July 30),” Poulson said.
“He may start at Warwick Farm in two weeks if I think he needs it.”
AAP TURF
