ROB'S SHOUT - LNP LOOK HOME IN THE STATE ELECTION; HAY LIST COULD BE VULNERABLE IN THE WILLIAM REID
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, March 22, 2012
Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the multi-premiership and Group 1 winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.
Hello once again and welcome to another important weekend of 'racing'.
Probably the most important race of all is the electoral race which looks like having a major impact on the racing industry in the short term anyway!
I actually think it is a shame that politics have played such an important role in the governance of this industry. There is no doubt that the industry plays an important role in the state's economy and I guess it is understandable that politics do feature, but personally I would like to see the administration be apolitical and go about just running the industry as effective and efficiently as possible.
Mr Bentley’s recent suggestions in the press that he may well walk away if the LNP win the election is the biggest news in our industry for many years. There are many who will be pleased by his revelation, but I believe David Fowler got it right in his blog on HRO earlier this week when he said it was not as much as what the Bentley regime did … but how they went about it!
Bob sure gave it a red hot crack and he wasn't frightened to make a change!
For what it's worth, the biggest error the current Racing administrators have made to Queensland racing is the failure to replace the turf track at Eagle Farm.
All the talk about the track being the responsibility of a private club is a load of nonsense as it's the premier race track in this state and as such it is an industry asset.
It's the home of the most famous race held in this state in the Stradbroke and it saddened me and made me a little angry to recently read when the chairman of RQL admitted the track was stuffed and needed digging up.
If so, then this should have been a priority of the racing administration irrespective of the 'equity' issue.
The bickering and animosity between the states administrators and the major metropolitan club have held racing back in this state for far too long and my greatest wish now is for the new administration to get stuck in and address the many serious issues that need urgent attention.
I have no idea who or what the new administration will be and how they will attack the monumental challenges that face them, but he industry is in a state of turmoil so it is imperative that we all start to work together as one for the betterment of the industry.
I cannot believe the amount of in-house fighting that goes on in an industry which is the passion and life blood of so many. It is time to bury the hatchet (no, not
in the back of his head) and pull together.
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We are hopefully coming to the end of another dreadful wet season which has hammered the industry at a time when it could least afford it.
The tracks have copped a pounding and I am sure that the betting turnover has suffered considerably.
You only have to look at the nominations to see how many desperate owners and trainers out there trying to get starts for their runners. It may take weeks and weeks to clear the back log and get back to some 'normality'. It sure is a frustrating period for all.
The winter carnival is just around the corner so I am hoping and praying that the weather can give some respite to the much over worked track curators so they can get their tracks back to pristine condition for their feature race days.
It’s so important that we put on a good show as the state’s racing takes national centre stage in May and June!
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The state’s election is one favourite that probably won't get rolled this weekend, but I am hoping like hell my boys can stitch Hay List up in the Group 1 William Reid at Moonee Valley tomorrow night.
It is an exciting theatre at the valley and I have to admit to having a few butterflies in the belly as show time gets nearer.
The hulking Hay List has had a problem this last week with a bruised heel. I believe an abscess burst out on Thursday which will require another vet check when he arrives on track on Friday evening.
I have encountered this problem in the past and I can bet it would have been a huge relief to Hay List’s trainer when he abscess burst out as they can be very painful for the horse.
There’s no doubt he would have missed some vital work so there may well be a chink in his formidable armour now.
He is a superstar and some would say he could still win at WFA on three legs. I can say though that if his heel does bother him, he will not be winning the race. At this level of competition, everything has to go right … so the big horse has to be vulnerable.
I am delighted with how well Buffering and Woorim are going into the race. They have recovered well from their excellent runs in the Newmarket and they are bucking their brands off.
Drawing a barrier inside of Hay List was a huge bonus. We will jump and lead and I am not sure if Hay List can cross us. If he tries to, this may then generate plenty of speed which will suit my swooper, Woorim.
No, it’s not team riding, just the way it looks like panning out!
Michael Rodd on Buffering may have to come away from the fence coming into the straight as there is a chance it may be inferior ground, but he can gauge that as race time gets nearer!
Both Woorim and Buffering have won around the tight valley track and the likely Dead 4 rating is just about perfect for both.
Racing at Weight For Age is always a huge challenge and the mighty Hay List is a real warrior and looks unbeatable at the weights. What was that kid’s story about the lion with a splinter in his foot? Even the king of the jungle can be brought down with a foot problem!
Its more mileage points on Saturday as I head up to Sydney where Group 1 racing moves to Rosehill with the Sydney Autumn carnival kicking off.
Tomboy has a monumental task ahead of her in the Coolmore Stakes but I don't think the market is a true reflection of her chances. They have her the roughie at
about $80, but I believe she will go better than that.
I realistically do not expect her to win but she will acquit herself well. She has the one gate, she is in great form, she has travelled really well and Craig Williams is
the right man on top.
Back home at Doomben, we might even be lucky to race if much more rain falls … wow, like I said, the weather makes it tough.
Cheers for now.
Robert
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