ROB'S SHOUT - APPRENTICES HAVE THEIR MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH A 'STAND ALONE' AWARDS NIGHT

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, September 5, 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 appears exclusively on HRO, workload permitting.

Congratulations to Tegan Harrison for being ‘crowned’ the Apprentice of the year at their awards night earlier this week.

Tegan has had a very successful year on the race track and whilst she had some personal issues which saw her miss a portion of the racing season, it’s fantastic to see her back and again doing well.

Her talent, her beaming smile and bright bubbly personality is an asset to the industry.

The new concept of the apprentices only award night apparently worked very well. They tell me it was a great night and the state’s apprentices did themselves proud.

After another long ‘Mad Monday’ as I call em, I got home after a 16 hour day and promptly fell asleep and missed the function so I felt a real dill the next day when I realized I had missed the function!

It’s great to see so many of the younger riders doing well and the abundance of competition in the junior ranks can only be good for the future of the jockey’s room down the track.

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My stable has had a lot of success this past year with the apprentices and I hope it can continue.

I have had recent winners ridden by apprentices Geoff Goold, Tiffany Jeffries and Janette Johnson so I am quite comfortable with how the apprentices’ school is currently bringing their riders along!

Some promising riders coming through the ranks which is fantastic.

The system may have changed over the years with the racing authority taking over more of the role as the apprentices master but nothing will ever replace the discipline of hard work, diligence and enthusiasm that is required to achieve success.

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You may notice my stable has been using the services of a wide ranging list of riders.

Brownie, Glen Colless, Michael Cahill, Ryan Wiggins and great to see Muncie punch one home for us on Wednesday.

I want to use as many riders as I can using the theory to match in-form riders with horses they suit … wherever owners are comfortable with that strategy.

In the words of Mr Trump … ’nothing personal, just business’!

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The new racing season is a month down the road and it’s been a fair start to the year for the stable.

A busy start with plenty of runners and a wee bit frustrating with over 17 second placings but, mixed with that, there have been a dozen winners so that’s a high pass mark in my eyes.

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The next few months promise to be as busy as ever with the ‘A’ team about to head south.

Fifi, Solzhie and Fillydelphia initially and Buffering to follow in another couple of weeks.

I am under no illusion how tough it always is to aim for the southern riches but it’s always exciting to take em on down there!

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Funtantes is racing again on Saturday … maybe for the final time?

Gee, she’s making more comebacks than Shane Scriven!

Seriously though, the vets are prepping her for the stud barn so, until then, we will keep her going.

She is racing well with a high level of enthusiasm. While she is happy, we are happy to continue with her.

Mind you, the vet has the call when she is to stop! She lines up again on Saturday in a tough, but winnable race!

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The spring carnival really looks to be hotting up down south now with some great racing in Melbourne and Sydney.

Sure, our Brisbane racing will very much take a back seat but for every race … wherever it might be … there will be a winner and some very happy connections.

Cheers and good health.

Robert

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