Robert Heathcote cannot think of a more worthy horse than Volkhere to bring up the stable's 50th stakes win.

The gelding is one of the favoured runners in Saturday's Listed Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast, going into the race off a fine second to Pornichet in the Toowoomba Cup.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Pornichet has since earned Cox Plate favouritism with a dominant win in the Group One Doomben cup.

Volkhere is yet to win a black type race but he is typical of Heathcote's horses - tough and honest.

"He would be a lovely horse to reach a milestone with. He always tries and that is what I like in a horse," Heathcote said.

The gelding will be fronting up for his 12th start this season and he has finished in the first four in all but one of those races.

Heathcote said he had always had a lot of time for Volkhere as a genuine stayer.

"They don't come much tougher and he races like a true stayer. I always intended to get him out to a genuine staying trip this campaign," he said.

"His run when second in the Toowoomba Cup last start was very good and the winner of that race Pornichet certainly franked the form with his win in the Doomben Cup."

Heathcote has been one of Queensland racing's success stories since he took up training 18 years ago.

He brought up his 1000th career winner last year, has won the Brisbane trainers' premiership five times and won six Group One races.

Heathcote's first stakes winner was Chenar in the 2000 Group Two Champagne Classic at Doomben and his grand veteran Buffering leads the way with four Group One wins.

Heathcote has elected to miss the Listed Glasshouse Handicap with Excellantes and will rely on veteran Riva de Lago in the race.

Riva de Lago hasn't won since the Group Two Theo Marks Quality at Rosehill in September 2013 when trained by Chris Waller.

However, Heathcote is expecting a good run from the gelding.

"Excellantes will run in the Ascot Handicap on Saturday week. But I think you will find Riva de Lago runs a better race this time," he said.

"We got him mid-campaign last time and after running very well at his first go for us, he then tapered off. He has had a good spell and his recent jump-out was very good."