With the carnival in full swing you always like to catch up with the leading trainers to get their thoughts on some of their stars progression leading into the Group 1’s, I caught up with Rob Heathcote to get a guide on some of his horses performances over the last fortnight.
His carnival kicked off nicely with Humma and Fillydelphia winning group races at the start of the carnival, but had a mixed day on Saturday with a couple of good hopes going down but walking away with a winner in Gundy Son.
Rob said he thought that Fillydelphia was a victim of circumstances and had to be ridden a touch close on the weekend. The plan will be to back up in the Oaks this weekend and probably ride her a bit more patient. He thought she probably had her chance to run past the leaders but was still a good run to be beaten under a length. Importantly Luke Nolan who rode her to victory the start before will go back on board in the Oaks.
Buffering was well beaten in the Doomben 10,000 after being slow out of the gates and over racing the whole way, just dropped right out to tail them in. Heathcote said the horse has pulled up well and they will be pushing on to the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm 1400m, but did admit the confidence levels have dropped a little after that run.
One of our website favourites is Excellantes so I had to get the latest. “He’s had a little stone bruise, hence the reason he was scratched on Saturday. He will run on the Monday of the long weekend.” Rob told us.
Also one of his nice mares Acquired sold at the magic millions today for $430,000 to Kitchwin Hills and they are sending her back to Rob and she will be going around on the weekend which is interesting news. She has been racing really well and they may have made a good decision keeping her in work.
The horse I am pretty sure that can give Rob his first Group 1 victory is Woorim. His win two weekends ago got him a 1kg penalty and a run in the 1400m feature race. All he will need come Stradbroke day is a dry track and a pinch of luck on straightening as I don’t think there is a horse that can match his motor over the last 200m.
Rob has a great bunch of staff behind him and all in all the Heathcote stable have had a nice carnival and with some of their stars coming along nice I am sure there is more winners coming for the stable in the next few weeks.
