ROB'S SHOUT - EXTREME HEAT POLICY IS LIKELY TO PLAY A BIG PART AT RACE MEETINGS THIS SUMMER

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, November 20, 2014

In his personal blog, exclusive to HRO, multiple premiership winning trainer Robert Heathcote sweats through the problem of extreme heat. He gives further insight into Buffering's preparation for his Hong Kong trip and he finally spots excavators at work at Eagle Farm.

Stepping out into 41.2 degree heat before the first race at Caloundra was an experience, as was the debate that followed in the next hour about whether the meeting should go ahead or not.

It basically begged the question: Is Racing Queensland’s ‘Animal Welfare – Caring For Horses In Extreme Heat horse Policy’ currently good enough or are there perhaps any improvement suggestions that can be made given the events of the weekend and the fact that it is a very real prospect that similar conditions are likely to be repeated again over the summer period?

It is a difficult one to perfect and I wish I had the answer.

Obviously the welfare of the horse must come first and it’s paramount the authorities put in place protocols to deal with this issue.

They have to an extent, but the final argument still comes down to a few opinions here and there, as happened on Sunday, which gives no definitive solution.

We were lucky on Sunday. The cloud cover came over fairly quickly after the start of the meeting and the temp dropped significantly allowing the races to go ahead with no issues to the well-being of any of the horses.

I think the stewards should have discussions with the veterinarians, trainers and determine at what point, ie temperature and humidity levels the races are either postponed or abandoned.

The frustrations don’t end there as there are significant costs involved in getting horses to the track and staff wages etc.

Yes, it is a difficult one and whilst we have had plenty of ‘hot’ days in the past, there are sure to be more to come … but I am confident that the correct decisions will be made at the appropriate time.

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Buffering’s preparations for his trip to Hong Kong are coming along well.

Not surprisingly there are rigid protocols in place with the veterinary requirement’s etc … as the Hong Kong jurisdiction does operate under a very high standard which differs to the degree that all medications and applications must be administered by club vets.

I have been in regular contact with their veterinary science department to ensure we comply fully with their standards.

I am a bit surprised the feed I use is not available in Hong Kong but I am permitted to take my own preferred feed with us on the flight up as long as it is in sealed bags.

Buff himself is well, bright and seemingly in excellent order.

He hasn’t done any fast work since his brave run in the Darley Sprint but he will have a good hit out on Saturday. My plan is to give him a jump out at Flemington on Friday week which is basically two weeks until his race so fitness is certainly not going to be an issue.

There is going to be a group of 21 of us ‘connections’ in Honkers cheering our little champ on. OK, so there won’t be Aussie or Black and Blue flags everywhere but the trip away will be a celebration for the connections for the wonderful ride this little fella has taken us on!

To stand on the winners’ stage after the International Sprint will surely be the pinnacle of Buffering’s career and mine too for that matter.

We are all excited to be a part of ‘International Day’ but still a ways to go to get the Buff to the starter’s gate on the 14th December! I am under no illusions how tough it will be to win the race and even the early betting market has Buffering as only the 5th or 6th in the market order.

Clearly the locals are going to be very hard to beat on their home turf but we are guaranteed Buff will give it a red hot go, whatever price they have him!

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Here at Eagle Farm the first week of serious work/renovations are now under way.

Plenty of excavators, bobcats, front-end loaders and back hoes digging and probing around the track.

Great to finally see it all happening.

Of course there will be plenty of disruptions to the training routine but the plan is to keep us at Eagle Farm for as long as possible until the cuts for the tunnels are made. Only then will we transfer all training over to Doomben.

That may be in another month or two but it is important that the club, the contractors, the trainers and track riders all work together and understand the short term pain is for enormous gain down the track.

Regards for now.

Robert

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