ROB'S SHOUT - OUR SUCCESSFUL SPRING CARNIVAL IS IN THE RECORD BOOKS. NOW IT IS TIME TO HEAD WEST

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, November 14, 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.

The spring carnival is over for us now and the ‘big show’ heads west to Perth. Quite simply I have to pinch myself with the success we have enjoyed during the carnival with Buffering and Solzhenitsyn each winning major Group 1 races and Fire Up Fifi winning a Group 2 and placing at the highest level.

Buffering’s win in the VRC Sprint Classic was breathtaking for us.

His maiden Group 1 win 2 weeks prior may have left a few questions unanswered as to which horse has assumed the mantle of the current top sprinter in the country. His latest win was authoritative and certainly made a statement.

Gee, two Group 1 wins in two million dollar races in two weeks is certainly stuff that any trainer dreams of and I am no different. I have been quite overwhelmed by the popularity of the ‘little Buff’ which I guess can be attributed to his overall consistency racing at the highest level in an era of real quality sprinters.

In the absence now of Black Caviar, Hay list, Sepoy and the Sea Sirens it is now Buffering’s turn in the spotlight!

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It was a very, very clever ride from Buffering’s regular jock Damian Browne in the Classic and it further emphasises his standing as one of the country’s leading hoops.

His rating of Buffering made it basically mathematically impossible for them to run him down up the famous straight six. He ran out the first 400 in 24.7 and then a 400m sectional in an amazing 21.7 which really put the opposition to the sword before a final 400 in 23.75, so whilst Shamexpress did a very good job to get within a length, Buff had it won a long way out.

Mind you I still had my heart in my mouth with memories of Hay List nailing us on the line in the Newmarket a few years ago.

I reckon Brownie was a little bit chuffed with the win as well as you rarely see too much emotion from Mr Cool but I did notice a few fist pumps after the line! I know it’s hard to keep the emotions bottled up in the amazing atmosphere that is generated at Flemington.

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Buffering has pulled up well and he has now had an easy week at Flemington, doing steady light work, before he flies across to Perth on Sunday night.

The ‘super’ Saturday in Perth promises to be another great day and the WEST are really getting pumped with the clash between their local star, Barakey, and Buffering.

The local sprinter might just be a tough nut to crack on his home turf as he has an imposing record and the depth of the sprint should be very pleasing for the Perth Turf Club.

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Solzhenitsyn put in his second poor performance of the spring but with a valid reason.

He has developed a partial paralysis of the laryngeal nerve which stimulates a part of the larynx in his throat. The two cartilages within the larynx must move to the sides each time a horse takes a breath but because of this partial paralysis, his airway is compromised and he cannot inhale enough oxygen.

The situation has deteriorated significantly with this last run so he has now been flown back home and he will undergo a surgical procedure to ‘try’ and correct this problem.

It’s an obvious risk but modern surgical procedures have improved the success rate of the operation so we are hopeful he can again get back to the races and enjoy success.

This procedure was also done on So You Think after he had won his first Cox Plate so we do have hope!

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Fire Up Fifi will join Buffering on the flight heading West. She has also enjoyed a very successful spring campaign and she is high in the betting market for the million dollar feature Railway Stakes next Saturday.

Attractively weighted on 54 kilos so, if she copes well with the travel, I again expect a good run from her.

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At home on Saturday I have Fillydelphia placed in a race dedicated to the memory of the sad passing of Desiree Gill.

In racing we can lose our money but when things go wrong for a jockey, the price paid can be severe.

The death of Desiree Gill following her fall at the Sunshine Coast last week has again brought that fact into sharp sad focus.

Desiree has been passionate about racing all her life and she will be sadly missed by the so many people she has touched in her life.

A very, very sad fact of racing and just how dangerous a profession it can be.

Cheers,

Robert

Brownie and I with some of the spoils of victory

All Flemington photos:
Courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli

We were not as fortunate with Solzhenitsyn. He put in his second poor performance of the spring but with a valid reason.

He has developed a partial paralysis of the laryngeal nerve which stimulates a part of the larynx in his throat.

The term laryngeal hemiplegia literally means paralysis of half of the larynx. The larynx is composed of structures that guard the airway: the larynx closes to prevent food entering the airway and opens to allow maximum airflow. With paralysis, the amount of oxygen horses can inhale during exercise is decreased. Affected horses are also usually exercise intolerant.

Laryngoplasty is a procedure utilized to restore the upper airway to a more normal size in a horse with laryngeal hemiplegia. It is also known as a "tieback" procedure as the paralyzed portion of the larynx is "tied back" out of the airway.

We are hopeful Solzhenitsyn's upcoming operation will prove successful.