Nikki Burke’s fears about how the heat was affecting honest galloper Adams Bell were allayed when he came away with a narrow win at Sandown.

The Cranbourne trainer said the Adam six-year-old “melted” as the temperature soared to around 35 degrees before the City Of Greater Dandenong Cup (1400m).

However the $10 shot, ridden by Danny Nikolic, wore down Valedictorian ($4.20 fav) to score by a short-half-head with race leader Flash Kid ($31) a length away third.

“You just don’t find them that try like him,” said a relieved Burke who thought Adams Bell had been beaten.

“He sticks his little head out and has a crack. I was a little bit worried today, he melted a little bit in the weather and didn’t seem himself. He was really lethargic and I thought ‘oh he’s not coping’.

“But anyway he’s a little gun. It was a good ride and he’s a nice little tough horse.”

“You wouldn’t find a nicer horse. He lacks a couple of lengths of class but he makes up for it.

“I just love him.

“Danny said he was going to struggle to get 1400 metres but he needed every metre of it to get there.

Burke took over the training of Adams Bell after he had one start for Caulfield trainer Colin Little.

Adams Bell has now had 35 starts for seven wins, 10 placings and more than $160,000 prize money.

He has now won twice over the 1400 metres around Sandown’s Lakeside circuit but his other wins have been at 1207m or less.