We haven’t caught up with QLD’s leading trainer Rob Heathcote for some time so I decided to bother him today and find out about a few of the stable stars.
Of course Rob comes off a couple of nice results on the weekend with Funtantes winning the Listed race with some cheeky sectionals from the master frontrunner D.Browne steering. Rob also found the right race for Gundy Son and he was really pleased to get the honest sprinter back in the winner’s circle.
Everyone always wants to know how the main three horses are and I can report they are all very well! “Woorim had a gallop Saturday and went super, god I was happy with him. Three weeks and he will defend the Oakleigh plate (he won last year). Solzhenitsyn is running around the 23rd of March in the Canterbury stakes, two weeks into the George Ryder and then the Doncaster. Buffering is also doing well.” Heathcote said
It was interesting that Rob feels the 2000m will not be out of reach for Solzhenitsyn and a race like the Doomben Cup may suit the big ex-kiwi.
I asked about a couple of horses I was certain had to have a problem after their last runs and sure enough they both had excuses for below par runs. La Frisson Belle pulled up scratchy and I believe had minor knee surgery that will see her out for around 6 weeks. Smasher was another horse with a big wrap on him leading into Saturday but he too has pulled up a bit scratchy and Rob has decided to send him to the paddock for a break. Both horses are well above average and can be followed in the future.
Tony Gollan got the jump on Rob at the start of the year in the premiership race but as usual the master has clawed his way back and is taking control. His stars are on the way back and he will again be a major force wherever he decides to send his horses interstate.
