ROB'S SHOUT - DEFENDING PREMIERSHIP TITLE IS AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, October 28, 2010

Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the premiership winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.

Hello again,

Well the new racing season is well and truly under way and I have no doubt defending my dual metropolitan premiership mantle is going to be a monumental task.

Winning the training premiership did give me a huge amount of personal satisfaction, although it was certainly something that I never originally set out to do.

It was only after I finished runner-up on a couple of occasions that I realized it was an achievable goal.

Whilst there are no monetary awards associated with such an achievement like winning the Metropolitan Trainers Premiership, I would be lying if I said it didn't sadden me a touch that the industry governing body does not recognize the achievement at its annual awards night.

Unusual really, as it’s quite a significant award in Sydney and even more so in Melbourne … but here in Queensland we do tend to do things differently.

The local metropolitan club did recognize the fact that nowhere in racing are the three metro premiership winners - the jockey, the apprentice jockey or the trainer – recognized within the industry.

They did award a small pewter medallion and as a club director said to me later, ‘it's the thought that counts I guess’ … and he is right.

I know the closeness of the jockeys’ title really did create a lot of excitement in Brisbane racing nationally.

With the thrilling finish to their title this year and it was quite fitting in my opinion to see the award shared between Stathi and Larry.

I know Larry rated it as a huge personal achievement after relocating up here to Brisbane, but again it is sad that Larry didn't even get an invite to the Racing Queensland awards evening which did undermine the significance of what he had achieved … but I am sure he will also 'treasure' his medallion!

I guess giving the 'Ladies in Racing Award ' to a clerk of the course rider and not to Gillian Heinrich who had won the Magic Millions and other stakes races pretty much exemplifies a few of the errors made this past year at the industry awards function.

But, then again, maybe they are right and the whole thing is not too important anyway?

The reality is that the 'Premiership' is just a spinoff of a successful season where things are basically taken one week at a time and the sense of achievement it gives to the individual is entirely a personal thing.

I make no secret that defending 'the title' this year is going to be an enormous challenge, perhaps an impossible one, but one that I nonetheless will relish!

Those within the industry make no secret about the fact that winning such titles is all about having the 'cattle' to get the job done.

The 'cattle' and also the numbers … and the current early season favourite for the title certainly has plenty of both, but that in no way detracts from the excellent job they are doing.

I refer to the Patinack operation which is just about under full swing now in South East Queensland, ably managed by Toby Edmonds out of their new base at
Canungra!

Toby has taken his team to a clear early lead in the title and whilst I may be able to initially match it with their numbers in their Queensland operations, their sheer weight of quality and numbers may well wear us 'local' trainers down.

The Patinack operation have an added advantage of a rotational system of moving horses up from down South to find a more suitable race for a quick and easier 'kill'.

They work with some very regally bred progeny and often a good horse’s pedigree will shine through at some stage.

For sure the Patinack operation would have to be a short priced favourite to take out the premiership this year and possibly for years to come as the Hawkes team did for a number of seasons when the Ingham operation was in full swing here.

I think it is great for South East Queensland racing to have Mr Tinkler’s operation up here under the eye of John Thompson and Toby with some well bred horses … as seen by the $2 million dollar purchase who recently won in town recently.

Personally I would take the cash thank you, but if he's got it, and he's obviously got a passion for what he's doing, then why not spend it?

It is great for racing.

Good luck to them and the injection of horses in our 'local' economy has come at a timely moment.

Quite a few of my very successful stable team from the last few years have climbed in the rankings and, more importantly, the ratings which of course does make it much harder to continue to win with them.

This is part of the reason why it becomes essential for them have to start to travel more and chase the carnivals and I have been fortunate in recent times to have had some good runs down south from our team.

I know there are some excellent trainers right throughout this state and this continues to be reflected in the trainers premiership each year in the respective regions.

I welcome the challenge to defend my premiership title, but the calibre of stables represented here now which include the likes of Gerald Ryan with a slick operation run by Matt Dunn, The Aquanita operation, Kelly Schweida, Barry Baldwin and my old mate, BJ Smith … well, you can certainly count on a good fight for winners amongst these quality training stables!

I haven't even mentioned the Gold Coast stables which include the 'old Master' himself in Alan Bailey who has scaled his operation down a bit, but I respect him and rate his prowess as a trainer right at the top of the tree!

Isn’t it great to see the increasing number of Queensland horses venturing south and enjoying the spoils of victory. Great to see the wins of Roger Milne and now
young Ben Currie who has a great training pedigree.

Best of luck to whoever takes the accolade this year as the Metropolitan Premiership Trainer.

I would love to win it again as that would just about guarantee another successful year for the Heathcote Racing Stables!

If it isn't, then so be it, but I will be the first to shake the hand of the winner and say congratulations as I know exactly how much work and effort went into achieving the feat the past two years.

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