ROB'S SHOUT - BUFFERING AND SOLZHENITSYN ARE BOTH FIT, HEALTHY, HAPPY AND READY TO GO
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, June 6, 2013
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, workload permitting.
I would like to kick off this week's blog with a pat on the back for the track ranger and staff for the excellent job they did presenting a very fair track for the Oaks day races.
It's well documented the track is old and tired and needs replacing urgently but after the week of 'unsettled' weather and 27m of rain last Thursday, I thought it came up great for the day’s racing.
As we head into the biggest racing day on the Queensland Racing Calendar I am praying the weather can give us some respite after what's already been a very wet year.
It has been a pretty good week so far but a bit of the wet stuff may fall on Saturday which we definitely do not want or need. Fingers crossed the track can race a good 3/ dead 4 which would give every horse its chance.
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Buffering has finally drawn a good barrier in a big one.
It seems like he has just about always had a difficult gate to contend with in the feature Group
1’s including the unwanted gate 1 in the Manikato last spring.
The draw for Saturday’s feature has no doubt affected the betting market with some favoured and others not.
I have actually been quite surprised with the very 'generous' odds quoted about Buffering's chances prior to his favourable barrier draw and many have happily snapped up the 14 to 1 which has now been trimmed back to about 8 to 1.
Personally I still think that is good value for this horse.
The tempo of the race is going to be crucial with Buffering rolling along up front. On paper anyway it looks like Buffering can control the race tempo but experience has long taught me to expect the unexpected as we saw in the Doomben 10,000.
I reckon many jocks will see the weight impost of 58 kilos and back themselves to run our little bulldog down up the straight.
I have a funny feeling that straight will seem like its 800m long on Saturday as Buffering tries to hang on!
It will be a pressure race as the Stradbroke always is which can indeed help the chances of my other runner, Solzhenitsyn.
The draw has not been so kind to his chances but I expected him to be travelling in the second half of the field.
This horse’s biggest asset is his strength. I have long said he is not the fastest horse in the stable but he can sustain a long pressured run so if Michael can get onto the back of something going forward from the 600, I do expect Solzhie to be getting home strongly.
His juicy odds of $16 bucks or so are also excellent value and the 56kg will seem like a featherweight to this big strong horse.
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After the barrier draw, I now favour Buffering as our stable’s best winning chance.
I worked the boys together early on Tuesday morning at Eagle Farm on the dirt track. I may have annoyed some as I worked them before the crowds arrived for breakfast with the stars … not to be a nark or even hide them from the public view. It was more about keeping to their routine and ensuring no unnecessary safety risks were taken.
I opted for caution so apologies to those who wanted to see their final main work out session.
Damian rode Buff and Melissa followed about 25m behind on Solzhie who can be a bit lazy so the fact that he could see Buff meant he would focus in his work.
It wasn't outstanding work and the clock was not on fire but the boys did exactly what I wanted and they will line up on Saturday in A1 order as they are fit, healthy and happy and that's the key going into any race let alone a biggie!
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It was a great day’s racing last Saturday with a number of highlights.
Sizzling certainly quietened the knockers after seemingly being down on form and yes, he has to be a genuine chance in the big one this Saturday.
He is well in at the weights. I was surprised he did not get a penalty for winning the Guineas last Saturday. The handicapper didn't believe he deserved it and yet Better Than Ready has more weight!
I find it hard to figure that one out but I have long learned that the handicappers are more often right than wrong … but they are luxury weights for horses still on the up!
The wide gate sure makes it tougher now for the local three-year-olds but a win from either Sizzling or Better Than Ready would not surprise!
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Winning a stakes race with Fire Up Fifi was the obvious highlight of my day but I was over the moon with the efforts of Magic In Motion in the Oaks and Griffon in the Group 2 QTC Cup.
Little Magic was extremely brave and with another brilliant Glen Colless ride from the outside gate she certainly got our blood racing at the 250m mark but she failed to stay out the Oaks trip. A super effort nonetheless.
Glen was chuffed with her effort and I know he is looking forward to renewing his association with her when she next comes back into work. We are now happy to give Magic a break for four to six weeks.
I was very impressed with the win of Pat Carey's Gondokoro and don't be surprised she ends up in the same class as Ethereal who went onto become a super staying mare.
Of course this filly has a long way to go to reach such lofty levels but she is in the hands of a very astute trainer who knows what it takes and Pat is certainly excited about her prospects.
I see the decision has been made to back her up against the boys in the Derby. This will tell us all a lot more about her.
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The QTC CUP last Saturday with Griffon … well, one more stride and he would have got the chocolates over Galah so a superb effort from him on the back up and no doubt the Group 2 win would have been the highlight of Tegan Harrison’s career had we got in the extra stride.
I have always thought Griffon has the class to win a real good race so he is now the most deserving horse in my yard for an overdue win after his last three unlucky runs.
He will now head on to the Group 3 Healy Stakes in three weeks at Eagle Farm where hopefully he can atone for his recent fortunes.
I do indeed feel sorry for the punter who had a $40 all up riding into Griffon for about $86,000 bucks. You sir do deserve a stiff drink!
We just got nutted by a Darley horse and I can tell you that is not the first time that's happened. The Darley team are a formidable operation led by the 'maestro' Henry Plumtree with the care of the horses being in the very astute hands of Peter Snowden.
They have had another successful Queensland carnival and I have a sneaky feeling their success is not over just yet.
I have no doubt that Epaulette is the horse to beat in Saturdays Stradbroke.
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Last Saturday was still a good day for the local trainers which is always positive at this time of year when the racing is at its toughest.
Steve O'Dea's Sir Moments was very impressive and looks to have a top future and he is a
genuine winning chance in the J J Atkins on Saturday.
Our very own Fire Up Fifi was dominant in her Spear Chief win. I have decided to back her up into the Group 2 Dane Ripper this Saturday. It looks like being a fantastic quality race with Red Tracer and Steps In Time but our flying grey is still on the up and she gets in well under the weight conditions.
Unfortunately Damian Browne had a prior commitment to a Darley runner so he now hands the reins over to Glen Colless who I am sure will give our mare every chance.
The backup is a major query but, as we have come to know with this mare, she puts in every time she goes to the races so I am confident she can race very well in what's clearly her biggest test to date in her career.
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Yes, Saturday is our state’s grand final Day. The pinnacle event of Queensland's Thoroughbred Horse Racing.
It would be an enormous thrill and an honour to win the Stradbroke. It certainly looks like being a fantastic days racing so do yourself a favour and get to the races to catch all the excitement and action.
I have a very good feeling that a Queensland horse can win the Holy Grail of our state’s racing.
Hope to see you there.
Cheers.
Robert
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