Tim Martin will set Heavens Above two tough assignments during the next fortnight, starting with Saturday’s $400,000 Group 2 Ronald McDonald House Westmead Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
She’ll back up the following week in the $1 million TAB Epsom (1600m) at Royal Randwick in what could be a lucrative period for the Street Cry mare who is more than ready for the challenge.
“It’s too good to bypass, this race (Golden Pendant),” Martin said. “She’s really well and at the top of her game at the moment, she’s thriving. She’s better this preparation; actually she’s getting better every week.
“The seven-day back up is a bit of an unknown but she recovers really well now.”
Before her grand final at Randwick on October 1, she first has to account for a good group of mares at Rosehill – a track she broke her hoodoo at last start in winning the Sheraco Stakes.
Heavens Above previously had four runner-up finishes from five starts at Rosehill before Tye Angland hooked her out late to run over the top of Ravi and Magic Alibi. From gate four jockey Angland should give her the perfect ride.
First Seal makes her return from a spell which makes the task even harder but Martin knows his mare is ready for a fight.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the topweight but I’m confident she can beat the horses she beat last start,” he said. “As long as there’s a good tempo she’s good.
“She’s very easy to ride even though she can get a bit cranky, but she’s always showed from day one that she was good. As long as she gets her fair share of luck I think she can win it,” Martin said.
Tycoon Tara (Josh Parr), from the Peter and Paul Snowden year, will also pose a threat.
The first of nine races at Rosehill on Saturday jumps at 12.15pm.
