It was a long time coming but Victorian based Highrail Danehill sired his first winner at Ballarat on Thursday.

Dane Roly (4g Highrail Danehill – Lady Loch Moy by Hula Grey) did the honours with a convincing victory in the Whitehead Timber Maiden Plate (1100m).  He’s overcome setbacks that would have stopped most horses in their tracks.

Now trained by Steve Richards at Flemington, Dane Roly has been under the knife to remove a lung cyst and for soft palate surgery to stop him roaring.

He is part-owned by Les Lowell and Alan Pateman and had run fifth at Canterbury in December 2010 before connections sent him to Melbourne last year.  The Ballarat win wasn’t unexpected – he started a $1.65 favourite after finishing a close second at Kyneton last month.

His sire Highrail Danehill stands at The Lodge near Casterton and he was also in the wars after being bought by Macedon Lodge owner Kurt Stern at the 2002 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  He’s a Danehill but, being a crypt orchid, only made $32,500 at the sales and then he fractured a fetlock a few months later.

“He was originally at stud with Brendon Page at Seymour,” The Lodge owner Susan Cooper said.  “He’s a lovely horse but has only sired a handful of runners.”

Highrail Danehill transferred to Victoria’s western districts last year and Cooper reports he covered five mares in the spring.