ROB'S SHOUT - THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK HAVE PROVIDED AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, May 17, 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.
It was certainly an emotional rollercoaster this past week.
The hoof problem Buffering has sustained has caused all kinds of dramas which unfortunately saw him become a scratching after being favourite for last week's Group 1, BTC Cup.
Sure, it was a bitter pill to have to swallow as I am certain he would have been right in the finish of the race, however it's not the first time a horse has been scratched just before a race with a problem and I can guarantee it will not be the last. It was just an incredible shame for the connections that it happened on such a huge occasion.
I believe we had the horse in the best condition of his life, he was coming off a dominant last start win and he was feeling and looking fantastic. So well in fact that I personally walked him to the track from home with Melissa on top on the Friday morning for his lap of pace work and when he had finished his work, I led him off the track as he get very playful as he is feeling so well. Mel said he felt great and he was spot on to win his first Group 1 race.
It was after I got back to the track that I received the phone call from Tom to say Buff had put a short step in and I had better come back to the stables and check him. Sure enough, he had a pulse in his hoof and the first squeeze with the hoof testers confirmed a problem.
Being so close to the race I knew we were in serious trouble, but we would do all we could to get him there!
My farrier and the vet were immediately called and treatment began on his injured hoof.
Buffering had sustained what we generally refer to as a 'stone bruise'. He need not necessarily stood on a stone to have sustained the injury, but more than likely he did!
Any damage to the sensitive laminae within the hoof from any form of trauma can produce some internal bleeding which ultimately can lead to the formation of an abscess. It can be very painful for the horse and usually lameness is immediately apparent as was the case with Buffering.
These problems can linger for up to two weeks or resolve themselves in a few days depending on the severity, so there were plenty of anxious moments around the stable.
I also called the Chief Steward, Wade Birch to alert him of the situation, as is my responsibility under the rules of racing, so the public could be informed!
Wade said every opportunity would be given to us to try and get Buffering to the races … right up until an hour before the race if needed although the horse would need to show positive recovery signs on Saturday morning when inspected by the RQ vet, Martin Lenz.
We worked on the hoof all day but first thing on Saturday morning (race morning) when I walked Buff out of his box I knew we were still in big trouble!
At 7am Wade and Martin came to inspect him and after I trotted him up the road and he was still short in his action the right decision was made to withdraw the horse from the race.
I mentioned last week about this racing game being character building at times, well I got a decent dose of it last Saturday but as someone (Bart) said to me about the whole thing … no one is dead and life goes on so no point in moping about it, let's get on with things and do the best we can to get the horse right.
It's been around the clock treatment of the horse’s foot and daily trips to Nudgee Beach and Tuesday afternoon gave the first positive sign that were indeed winning the battle.
The bruising had started to come out through the bulbs of his heal. He was no longer short in his action at the trot and he worked comfortably under saddle on Wednesday morning in his track-work.
His rider, Peter Spargo said he couldn't feel the problem at a canter, but just pulling up to a trot he could just feel it.
I am now confident I can get him to the Doomben 10,000 in tip top shape. It's not ideal for him missing the BTC cup run and he's never been successful at the distance, but he did run fourth in last year's Stradbroke and he's a much more seasoned and a tougher race horse now. I have no fears of him not getting the 1350 of the 10,000.
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The day at the races on Saturday was certainly not all doom and gloom for the stable as we still had a winning double with Solzhenitsyn and Excellantes. They were both dominant winning under big weights with superb rides from Brownie and young James McDonald.
It was a real shame that Damian copped a suspension on Excellantes and I thought it was a harsh penalty for a minor infringement. Not long ago Trump suffered interference which cost him a Listed race and no rider was to blame?? Perplexing indeed at times!
The suspension could cost Brownie dearly and any rider, for that matter who cops an outing at this time of year.
Excellantes has been a fantastic horse for his connections racking up six wins to date and banking just under 350 grand and yes he is still eligible for another Class 6 Plate in which he would drop weight!
He would be a good thing in that but for now we will raise the bar into the Chief De Beers over 1110 on Saturday week. A dry track and he will race well again! He is only a four-year-old. He has a good future.
Solzhenitsyn was as dominating. Arguably a big chance for a big race going forward, maybe even this Saturday in the WFA Lord Mayors Cup.
Some have tried to make a big deal about the perceived change of tactics. Was McDonald not just giving his mount the best chance of winning? Is it not wrong for authorities to want to force runners to keep to a fixed pattern given the different variables in different races?
I can certainly understand the stewards asking a few questions, but can you imagine the furore if James had dragged Solzie back to a rearward position after he had jumped so well and got beaten. They would all be saying we gave it run in that case!
I really believe that so many 'people' just don't understand the many variables that can occur in every race.
A closer look at his form and its clear to see he has usually had barriers which have forced the horse to be ridden in a more conservative manner. His gate 1 for his single run over the Christmas period saw him perform poorly due to a bug and he was immediately spelled.
That ride from James shows why he is such an up and coming star. He simply summed up the situation perfectly!
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I was still very satisfied with Woorim’s effort in the Group 1 BTC Cup!
He got way back in his customary manner and he made up good ground in a race which was run in a new race record time so it was always going to be tough to come from well back. He peaked on his run a touch so he should be spot-on for the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday week.
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It looks to be another great day’s racing ahead for us with the Doomben Cup meeting on Saturday. Arguably the best WFA middle distance horse in Australia in Manighar and great to see Moods back with a strong team for his 'home town' carnival !
My stable is well represented numbers wise but I am under no illusion how tough it will be to win a race. I may have up to eight runners on the day but with six of them at double figure odds or higher, I will be satisfied to see them race well on the day.
My best chances are in the mile WFA race with Fillydelphia and Solzhenitsyn. Winning is what it's all about but the next best thing is having chances in races on the big days! They cannot win if they are at home in their boxes.
Take care. Good health and good punting.
Regards,
Robert
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