Our champion trainer Rob Heathcote is always top of the list of people to catch up with and he is priming a few horses for an assault on the spring carnival down south. He was good enough (as usual) to take some time out of his hectic schedule to fill in the brissyraces followers on some of his horses.
Woorim is his Group 1 winner but he has had an injury and won’t be seen over the Melbourne carnival. There is also a doubt about the Autumn but the winter carnival up here in Brisbane may be the be the target at this stage. He just bumped/strained his leg and will obviously take time.
Solzhenitsyn is the horse who seems to be improving every preparation and his first up win stamps him as a serious group contender in the coming month. “Solzhenitsyn’s biggest attribute is his strength, he is a very strong horse and he can sustain a run. He will run in the Sir Rupert Clarke (1400m) and the Toorak (1600m). We will assess things after that to see what we do.” Heathcote said.
Buffering has his chance to come out of Black Caviar’s shadow now she is out for the spring and if there is ever a horse that deserves a Group 1 it is this bloke. The stable call him ‘The Bulldog’ because he puts in every time he hits the track. Rob is very happy with him and feels he is probably a little bit ahead of where he has to be as Buffering will run first up in the 1000m Schillaci stakes at Caulfield in four weeks’ time.
I also had a follower who wanted to know Excellantes and Funtantes plans. Excellantes will be on the same plane as Buffering and Solzhenitsyn. He will run in the 1200m Gilgai, and probably tackle the 2nd and 3rd tier sprint races in Melbourne. Funtantes is back in the stable and a week away from a jump out.
My favourite stable horse is Fillydelphia and Heathcote said he is very happy with her and that she will also have a jump out shortly. Forget about her winter preparation where she didn’t come up and I’m sure she will be back to her best this time in. She is a genuine Group mare when at her best and she could really improve again now she is fully matured.
I know many punters would love Buffering to get his well-deserved Group 1 win this spring and he will have all QLD cheering for him on raceday. You can guarantee that Rob will have ‘The Bulldog’ and the rest of the team really wound up and at 100% each time they line up down south.
Good luck Rob!
