ROB'S SHOUT - CUP WAS AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, November 7, 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.
Hello again folks,
Yes, another Melbourne Cup has been run and won and I thought the race that stops the nation this year was an absolute cracker.
It was so incredibly open with many chances and, as expected in such a feature race, plenty of unknowns and variables. This was incredible theatre with some of the best stayers in the world chasing the coveted Melbourne Cup prize.
I thought it was really fitting for the first lady of Australian racing to win the prize which has eluded her on so many occasions. She is an incredible horse trainer, a great ambassador for racing and quite simply, a great Australian!
Well done to my fellow HRO blogger and race-caller David Fowler for getting it right when labelling Fiorente as the one to beat. Great stuff David!
A couple of super runs also from the two English trained horses Red Cadeaux and Mount Athos. I have no doubt Luca Cumani will be back again trying to reach his goal which he’s come so close to obtaining these last few years.
That’s a close 2nd and a 3rd now so little doubt the intoxicating lure of the ‘big race’ has got him and he will be back as so many of the other colourful characters will be!
Damian Oliver, well, after the turbulent year he has just had its fair to say he may be a polarizing jockey to many but you cannot deny he is a champion jockey.
His ride was perfect and I happily applaud him for his success. He has done his time and it’s now firmly in the past.
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When Vintage Crop won the Cup back in ‘93 it was a landmark victory as it spurred on the international influence in the race (although the trickle took a little while to turn into a flood).
With Fiorente winning, little doubt the flood gates are well and truly opened now for the European stayers to be much sought after by Australian connections. It’s probably now a question of ‘if you can’t beat em, join em’ and to source stayers from overseas well be the best way of keeping the Melbourne Cup in Aussie hands.
If that works, as it did this year, and you can buy them ready to run … do we lose even more incentive to breed stayers in this country?
In that sense, wouldn’t that be just as bad a result for Australian racing as the Vintage Crop result?
It’s an argument with no winner to be honest. I have no doubt that the absence of any kiwis in this year’s field is plenty of reason for concern across the ditch!
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This Saturday our stable have big race plans again at Flemington.
Buffering and Solzhenitsyn could not have come off two more different runs in their respective last starts.
From his thrilling win in the Group 1 Manikato, Buffering now heads to the famous straight six where he gets to lock horns again with the highest rated sprinter in the world.
Lucky Nine is favourite and he will no doubt be a tough nut to crack but Buff has beaten him once and I reckon we can sure make a race of it again.
It’s a crack field of sprinters and I am going into the race knowing our little bulldog is in tip top shape. He has thrived since his well overdue Group 1 win and whilst this is far from a two horse race, Buffering will give them all something to catch up the straight.
He has been runner-up to both Black Caviar and Hay List at the track, which are pretty good credentials for straight 6 racing … making it a handy fact to have in his formline.
Gate 1 may or may not be an advantage but I am happy to leave it to the very much in form Damian Browne to rate him where ever he races and serve it up to them with a couple of hundred metres to go.
Damian is having a super spring carnival which helps vindicate my opinion that he is one of the best riders in this country.
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Solzhenitsyn put in a very uncharacteristic poor run at his last start in the Mackinnon.
We all know he is better than that and whilst I cannot be definitive, I firmly believe he choked down in his last run and we will see a much better run from him on Saturday.
We have made a couple of gear changes with the blinkers going back on and a tongue tie applied. He has taken to the tongue tie well through the week and from barrier 5, and a more likely genuine speed, he should be able to get into a free flowing rhythm which he was unable to do last week.
Sure, the backup is a query also but he’s done that before and this will be his last run before he has a break.
Solzhie has had a super preparation with numerous group placing’s and of course the coveted Group 1 win in the Toorak so he’s done us proud irrespective of how he fares on Saturday.
I just know he can do us proud one more time, even with the big weight against the best milers going around.
No doubt the Waller juggernaut will take some stopping and Boban is in formidable form.
It’s a tough race.
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We had a winner on Cup day, even if it was only at Doomben but they all count and it sure was a thrilling win.
Another inch perfect ride from Dee Browne coming from last under the big weight of 59 to just nail one of my good mate Tony Gollan’s horses, which always makes it a touch sweeter.
I have no doubt that Tony will have a ‘square up’ with me down the track……he he!
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To be honest, it’s been a little frustrating back home this season with a stack of 2nds and 3rds, but I can feel the momentum beginning to lift in my stable with the return of some nice horses in the coming months.
It sure to be a keen contest in the trainers’ premiership this season with Matt Dunn off to a flyer and Tony G gaining momentum with a nice team of horses.
Fantastic to see the continued success of the Queensland horses on the big stage at Flemington. Dan Bougoure’s two-year-old winner, Oakleigh Girl, this week was a cracker and she sure looks to have a bright future.
It’s been a while since Danny has had a good one and we all know how good he is at taking them all the way.
Kelly and Gary Doughty’s win with Black Cash on Oaks Day in the grey’s race under 60 kilos and a wide run was a super win.
They had little luck at the Valley at his first up run so it was a fitting result I reckon to get the cash.
No doubt the thrill of winning on the big stage will stay with them forever.
In closing, I just want to thank everyone for their good wishes and congratulations after Buffering’s Manikato win. Maybe the little Buff is the ‘Peoples Horse’ after all as Bruce likes to call him!
My flight is about to land in Melbourne so until next week … if I get time … take care and good health.
Cheers and regards.
Robert
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