ROB'S SHOUT - HOW GOOD IS IT TO HAVE BUFF BACK!
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, May 24, 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.
Two more sleeps and Buffering gets to race again.
It’s literally come down to that, a countdown this past two weeks as we have worked around the clock to get his hoof right so he can take his place in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
I was asked to perhaps do a daily time frame of the efforts involved with him each day this past two weeks.
Without going into the exact details it's fair to say we have gone through a few boxes of 'elastoplast'.
First thing we do each morning is take off the hoof bandage which is covering the hoof pack/poultice which was applied the previous day. Buffering is then walked to the track where he has worked … which for the most part has been at Doomben this past week. A special thanks to the BRC team for permitting us the use of Doomben which has enabled us to avoid the walk over and back to the Farm track.
Back home at the stables after his work and it's a hose down and a quick hoof cleanse before his hoof is wrapped and he has a cool down walk on the walker!
He then has his 'breakfast' before we get him back out of his box for anther hoof bath and a soak before another poultice is applied. Usually Chris, my farrier and Phil, the vet, are then with us to check on the progress and discuss the various tactics to combat the problem.
We have taken him to the beach every day from about 1pm to 2 pm for a long walk in the water. This has a great therapeudic effect as a natural drawing poultice as well as being excellent for the horse’s mental preparedness
Back home at the stables again for another poultice to be applied and then back in his box for his 'main feed' for the day.
My 'team' have been great and they have put in a huge amount of effort to get the little bulldog back to the races so if he does manage to be successful in the big one on Saturday it will in no small part to their efforts.
After his gallop session with Woorim on Wednesday morning, my confidence levels have risen that not only will he take his place in the line-up on Saturday but he will race very well.
Yes, he has missed an important race and subsequently some work, but I believe we have him just about back to where he needs to be. The main query I have is his ability to retain his fighting qualities over the 1350 as he has never won past 1200 … but then he did run fourth in last year’s Stradbroke over the1400.
The same doubt existed in this race last year when the horse got into a punch up with Beaded and we came off second best. Hindsight is wonderful, but if Buffering had of led that day I think he would have won!
I don't think he will lead on Saturday with Adebisi in the field, but for sure Buffering is going to be very handy and thereabouts as this is his best racing pattern.
It does look a fascinating speed battle early with Adebisi the likely leader, but maybe they might try something different with him as he certainly looks suspect at the 1350 at WFA.
No doubt Buffering will be up there as will Pampelonne and Sea Siren will be handy along with Mid Summer Music.
I think a few of the comments about the 10,000 this year lacking much quality or depth and it’s less than a stellar or Vintage year are a bit off the mark. A quick look at the field and what do we have ???
Phelan Ready, a slipper and a Magic Millions winner, Black Piranha, a duel Stradbroke winner, Scenic Blast, a former horse of the Year, Buffering, runner-up to Black Caviar and Hay List twice and they are arguably the best two sprinters in the world. Temple Of Boom, a recent Group 1 Galaxy winner, Beaded, last year’s 10,000 winner with over $1.6 million in the bank, Woorim, a sensational winner of the Group 1 Oakleigh plate, Pampelonne who may be one of the best three-year-olds in the land along with Sea Siren, already a Group 1
winner in her own right.
Sure, some may be down on form and perhaps past their best, but throw in the positives of Sistine Angel, Ladys Angel and the noted wet tracker in Mid Summer Music and we have a bloody good quality race. You try and win it!
No, this is a bloody tough race and a race that will generate enormous interest right around the country. The likelihood of rain and how much we actually do get on the track might will create more uncertainty, but I am sure it will still be a fascinating contest.
It was not an easy decision regarding the jockey to replace Nash Rawiller after we were advised that he will not be appealing his suspension. Jim Byrne had won on the horse at his most recent start and he was certainly considered, but the owners opted for Hugh Bowman who has also previously ridden the horse in the Group 1 Coolmore last Spring.
I can understand the disappointment for Jim but as is often the case in this industry, one loss is often another's gain and I will have to find another good one for Jimmy!
It will always be the case with jockeys that tough decisions have to be made at times. An unenviable task!
Speaking of jockeys, Michael Rodd renews his association with Woorim. The last time Michael rode this horse was in the million dollar Emirates at Flemington last spring where arguably a tactical error could have cost us the race.
Well Mike, it's time to pay us back, ha!
Knowing Michael, he is the consummate professional and he will be doing his best for us. If the track is not too rain affected, I am sure Woorim is a genuine chance of winning as his work was awesome with Buffering on Wednesday. He isn't far off his peak as we near the Stradbroke which has been his ultimate goal this prep!
Michael was in super touch last week booting home a Group 3 winner for our stable in Solzhenitsyn.
It was a superb ride of Michael to sum up the situation and allow the big son of St Petersburg to roll to front. He was beautifully rated by Michael and zipped home over the last 600 in 33.45 … and at Weight-For-Age … well, it gave nothing a chance to run him down.
The sire of the horse is the source of his rather unusual name. Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a Russian writer and winner of the Nobel Literature prize in 1970. He wrote a very famous book called 'One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovitch' which depicted the oppressive life in the Soviet Gulags … the forced labour camps! The writer passed away in 2008, but I'm surprised not
many knew that!
After the horses excellent win, we would now like to run in the Stradbroke, but the order of entry means he is only a very slim chance of getting in, even if the bookies have him on about the fifth line in the market.
I thought maybe I could run him the week before and win the Listed 1500 race and cop a penalty and then back him up, but the handicapper has since advised me that he would still not attract a penalty for winning that race under the Straddie conditions … so it's basically down to lady luck for the Solzhie connections and of course a high attrition rate whether we get into the big
sprint.
We are keen to look at a race or two with him down in Melbourne for the Spring, like the Emirates, so no big dramas if we don't gain a start! His day in the sun will come!
The carnival is really into full swing now and our stable looks like being very well represented again. Having more runners doesn't necessarily translate into an increased likelihood of winning during this time of year, but it's exciting to be racing on the big days … even if they are only rough chances.
The rain could well throw a spanner into the works though … as it invariably does. Fingers crossed we do not get too much and the sun can shine down on us.
Hopefully you can get to Doomben on Saturday and enjoy a great day’s racing.
Cheers and good health.
Robert
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