ROB'S SHOUT - MEAGHER RACING POSTS A WARNING

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, December 6, 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,

Although I welcomed the Meagher racing family to Brisbane many blogs ago, I now want to congratulate them on their first successes here in Queensland this past week.

John and his three sons, Daniel, Chris and Paul are welcome additions to the racing scene and I have no doubt there will be plenty more successes to come after their winning double this week.

Whilst it was good to see them get a winner, I'm not so sure I was too happy about running second and third to them with their first metro winner on Wednesday at Eagle Farm.

The win of Hannibal Ad Portas comes on top of the very impressive win of St Darci last Sunday at The Sunshine Coast. The Darci Brahma gelding bolted in first up after having been transferred to the Meagher team.

Legendary Kiwi trainer Alan Jones later reckoned that John and the boys have put three lengths on the horse since the transfer from his previous trainer, but I think maybe he was just having a dig at his old mate BJ?

Anyway, Annie and John and their families are a real positive to the local racing scene and I wish them much more success just as long as it's not in my races!

They now train out of my 'old' stables at Eagle Farm and there is no truth that the stables are now called the 'Taj Mahal' of Eagle Farm with all of the stable improvements!

John is somewhat of a clothes 'fashionista' with the latest designer gear and accessories and it's not unusual to see him in his turbo Porsche visiting the trendy spots of Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The Melbourne Cup winning trainer gets enormous pride from seeing his sons doing well with Daniel and Chris running the racing side of things with Paul in charge of all the pre training on their farm at Guanaba near the Gold Coast.

I for one certainly wish them well in their new venture!

**********************************************************************************************

This Saturday sees the running of the George Moore Stakes and what a beauty it looks like being.

Plenty of quality in the race with the likes of Adebisi, Phelan Ready, Belltone, Morning Captain and Startsmeup. Throw in the speedsters Audacious Spirit, Easy Running and even my bloke Excellantes and yes, a top quality race vying the big prize money of a $120 odd grand to the winner.

My bloke has drawn the car park as have most of my runners on the weekend so he is going to need an enormous stroke of good fortune to be winning this race.

From the alley it looks like being beyond him but my tip for the race is the chestnut son of Shovhog. Since Adebisi has been gelded he's been a revelation and Desleigh has her team flying.

Adebisi is fast, very fast and he can back up his win of last year but, like I said, a bloody good race and worthy of black type group status.

**********************************************************************************************

Little doubt that summer has arrived and wow … with a vengeance!

Of course the heat can and does affect the horses so as trainers we must be very mindful of the heat and adjust their training schedules accordingly.

It is very important that the horses be well hydrated and yes, they sure do drink plenty when the temps get into the high 30s. I also back off their work significantly but basically it comes down to common sense.

The stewards are always very mindful of the heat and they work closely with the vets regarding the safety of horses when the temps climb too high.

The race clubs are always very good providing iced water at the tie up stalls to help keep the horses cool pre and post-race but yes, the heat is an important aspect this time of year and they say we are in for another hot one!

**********************************************************************************************

I see with interest the debate over a return to the grass track at Toowoomba is a hot topic doing the rounds at the moment.

I have always been fascinated that the decision is made by the members of the club and not the trainers and owners as well as the members who get to determine their future.

I can’t really comment too much on the issue aside from saying I used to make the njourney up the range on a semi regular basis chasing the QRIS riches on the grass track but only the once or twice for the Cup when the synthetic went down.

I do not support the cushion track and never will.

It has been a failed venture in my opinion but whether it will solve the present bettingn turnover problems on the downs track remains to be seen.

If the water problem was the only reason the grass track came up … then it's time to putn it back down!

**********************************************************************************************

I am saddened a bit with what's going on in the PATINACK camp.

The situation must be incredibly tough on the working staff of the organisation and there are many excellent people on their current payroll.

For sure there have also been plenty go through their system for whatever reason but I sincerely hope it all works out and they keep going.

Maybe it all got to big too quick as the old saying does ring true. It’s called the 'The Sport Of Kings' cause you gotta be a bloody king to afford it and with over a 1000 horses on the books, little wonder the kitty might be a bit short!

Their loss would be a huge loss for racing but that's a tough comment on all those people owed money by the mining tycoon living well in Singapore!

More articles