ROB'S SHOUT - SOBERING DAY AT THE RACES
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, September 22, 2011
Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the multi-premiership winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.
Hello again folks.
Well it certainly was a 'sobering' day for me at the races last Saturday and I mean that quite literally. It was an incredibly busy day for me with a number of runners and a lengthy stewards enquiry so there wasn't much time to visit the 'bar' for a drink with friends!
You may be aware that we had a 'good thing' beaten in the short-priced favourite Trump early in the day in race 2. I had a number of runners engaged to race on the day so it was always going to be a busy afternoon but an ongoing stewards enquiry after the Trump race meant there was little time to mix with owners and have a drink, even to celebrate the good win of Bevico Girl or have a drink with my good mate Steve Gagel who had a birthday party in the members bar!
The stewards enquiry took up most of my 'spare' time for the afternoon which was frustrating but, under the circumstances, it was necessary but it did mean an already busy and hectic race day became even busier.
I was initially quite upset with the ride from Larry on Trump and that was whilst watching it live through my 10 x 50’s as I feel he made several tactical errors … but that is always a possibility each and every time a jock gets legged up.
Being the heavily backed favourite for the race, it is the stewards duty to enquire into circumstances surrounding any beaten favourite. The enquiry has been adjourned so it's not really appropriate for me to comment yet, but fair to say that if Larry had the ride over again I would like to think he would make some different decisions!
I tend to display my emotions a bit too candidly at times, but experience has taught me to put upsetting issues behind me quickly as I had to do in this case as I still had a busy day ahead of me.
It was quite a bizarre feeling after the race.
Here I was with a beaten favourite and actually winning the race at the same time … so there were certainly mixed emotions.
Take nothing away from Bevico Girl’s win. She did put the writing on the wall with an excellent last start second to Trump and, with the 54.5 kilo pull in the weights, she was always going to give a good account of herself.
I do know her jockey was quite confident of rolling the short favourite. In fact my confidence of her winning had waned a bit pre-race as the filly did get herself worked up quite a bit. Not sure why to be honest, although it was our hottest race day in quite some time so that may have been the reason.
It was another lovely, patient ride from Jim Byrne who tracked Trump into the straight and Jimmy timed her sprint to perfection. Jim is riding with a lot of self belief and confidence and it’s showing in his results.
Trump’s run was full of courage. He was caught wide and facing the breeze for the entire journey and he never got into a smooth easy rhythm at any time in the race. I was proud of him to see him still tough it out right to the line under the big weight of 58.5 and to still only get beaten a length or so.
I saw enough merit in his run to suggest to the connections that we give him a race or two on the big stage in Melbourne. There is a Listed three-year-old race over 1800m at Flemington on Sunday, October 2 which may suit him.
It's a set weights plus penalties race so I expect him to get 56 kilos … but the bigger, open spaces of Flemington might suit him. He may not get much further than the mile or his class may be questionable, but I believe he has earned the right for a crack at a good race!
Throw in the travel factor as well and it's quite a challenge for the horse, but ‘ya can’t win it if you ain’t in it.’ Buoyed by the stable successes last week at Moonee
Valley … what the hell … let’s give it a go!
Back to Doomben. It was a hectic day but another good day even though the stable 'only' had the one winner. It is never ideal to have two stable runners in the one race, but there are times when it is simply unavoidable due to the race programming.
Two weeks ago, Trump 'trumped' Bevico Girl and she squared the ledger on Saturday … one all!
It’s important that all owners and punters to understand that we do the best with every horse in our care, whether they are competing against each other or not. I run my horses in the races which I feel are best suited for each individual racehorse.
It was pleasing to see the old bugger, Eureka find some of his old form under a daring ride from Jimmy Byrne. Eureka couldn't hold off Secrets Untold, but he held on for a good second so he has paid his way this preparation for his connections.
Nice to see Phillip Cox back in the winners stall. He is a nice guy!
Il Cardinale ran a strong race to just miss out a nose and a nose so there is a win in him very soon and Red God worked to the line nicely the last 100m so he’s getting closer to putting it together when he gets over his right distance. He was second- up over the mile so his effort pleased me.
Leapfrog was always going to be impossible to run down in the last race running home in a sizzling 33.31 for the last 600m.
How often do we see it? On paper, seemingly tons of speed but they go out the first 500 at a snail’s pace making it virtually impossible for the back markers.
I was happy enough with Captain Clayton’s run so I am expecting a good upcoming racing campaign from him. It was always going to be a tempo based race and it went against my horse in this instance.
Next Saturday is a big one for the stable with Woorim lining up in the big Group 1 at Caulfield.
The seven day weather forecast is looking favourable at this stage as Woorim is clearly at his best on top of the ground which allows him to unleash his powerful finishing sprint. Damian and I will be flying down on the Saturday morning and home after the last again … hopefully with some silverware !
It was nearly another 'Queenslander' winning in Melbourne last Saturday with Jason McLachlan’s Facile Tigre just getting nutted in the last stride. Big Bruce would be proud of you Jason!
Another second placing with Bruce Hill’s Startsmeup at Rosehill so fingers crossed the local trainers can continue to fly the flag well for the Queensland horses as the Spring Carnival continues!
It proves just what a solid springboard the Brisbane Winter Carnival is form-wise and our horses can be more than competitive on the bigger stages down south.
Till next week,
Regards,
Robert.
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