ROB'S SHOUT - THE WEIGHT OF THE INTERSTATE CHALLENGE PROVIDES A SEARCHING TEST FOR LOCALS
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, May 7, 2015
Robert Heathcote is one of the leading racehorse trainers in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout', the personal blog of the multi-premiership and multi Group 1 winning trainer appears weekly, exclusively on HRO.
The weight of the interstate challenge during our carnival is once again emphasised by the Doomben Cup field ... 14 out of the 15 accepted runners are visitors (13 out of 16 in the Ubet BTC Cup).
This does not surprise me as the Holy Grail for all trainers and owners around the nation are the Group 1's.
They are the coveted races trainers seek for their good horses and yes, certainly the attractive prize money is a lure as well as the lovely ‘winter weather’ we normally have at this time of year!
Having been fortunate to have had a few group class horses it does become necessary, to a degree, to follow the Group 1 circuit around the country as the races are the most suitable for certain horses once they reach a certain benchmark / handicap level.
It is not unusual for only a small number of local Queensland horses to be able to compete against the visiting invasion but I reckon we have not done a bad job the past few years trying to turn back the tidal wave.
No doubt with the visiting numbers this year it is going to be extremely difficult for a local horse to win a Group 1 or even a group race at all during the carnival ... as it always is anywhere in the country ... but it certainly is not impossible.
Yes, it is harder to win a race at this time of the year but it is a good thing to have so many visitors with their good horses to test our best.
It is a challenge to compete at the higher levels in the stakes races and a challenge we welcome.
I must say I am also bloody happy when they go home too!
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I feel a bit for Steve O’dea as his top horse Sir Moments suffered an injury earlier in the week which has ended his winter program.
Character building I think they call it. I’m sure Steve and his star will come back bigger and better from the setback!
He looked to have a good race in him this winter!
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I am not sure why so many visitors have come up this year.
Maybe the revamped and condensed carnival, maybe the increased prize monies on offer or perhaps both as well as some clever marketing from the club!
It is also well known that visiting trainers are aware of the benefits of taking their horses up to Brisbane for a few races and maybe getting some sunshine on their backs prior to the Spring Racing Carnival!
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I was delighted with Hopfgarten’s effort to run a brave third in the Toowoomba Cup last week. That effort helped me decide to have a go at the Doomben Cup this Saturday.
No doubt it will be a herculean effort if he were to win it but I do not think he is without a chance. He was third-up at the 2150 and whilst the week backup is not ideal, coming back to the 2000 suits better.
I am hoping the run will have improved him and he races well at Doomben.
I was also very pleased with the run of Volkhere. He ran second in the Cup and his effort suggested he will be well suited to the Caloundra Cup over 2400m on Saturday week, which has always been his goal this winter.
Great to have his Kiwi owners, Garry and Sandra over for his last few runs and they are happily extending their annual holiday to be at Caloundra on Saturday week.
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I was quite impressed with how Toowoomba’s stand-alone Saturday went last week.
I did have a couple who did not cope with the soft conditions of the track but wow, after so much rain had fallen I thought the track played brilliant to even have a race meeting.
The Strathayr track drained fantastically well and no doubt lessons learned from the past are now working well.
I also thought the club catered well for their ‘metro race day’ and it is something other provincial tracks could learn from when holding feature race days.
I don’t mind the provincial clubs getting their stand-alone days, but it is just as important they get their event management plans right and don’t just treat it as another ‘provincial race meet’ with a bigger crowd to make a fast and easy quid.
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I see there have been a few of the usual narks knocking the fact that the First Lady of racing was in attendance at Toowoomba.
There is a suggestion Gai’s travel may have been subsidised for her, but so what if it was. She was feted by the crowd and that has to be great for the local racing scene.
A few celebrities are fantastic to have in attendance to add some colour to the races.
Gai’s horse, Pornichet, winning as favourite just put the icing on the cake ...
Personally, I wish she had stayed in Sydney with her horse as I did run second and third to her in the cup ... just kidding!
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I must admit to having a twinge of regret earlier in the carnival when I saw all the sprinters parade at the Gold Coast two weeks ago in the Group 2 Victory Stakes.
It is a race won three times by Buffering and whilst he hasn’t won the BTC Cup, he has competed in it the past four years.
This Saturday sees a very strong field lining up again but gee I wish I had the Buff lining up again ... so I’ve experienced a bit of a nostalgic moment.
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Those who have followed Buffering so faithfully throughout his career will be pleased to know that he is spelling well and the prognosis is looking good.
His fetlock joint has settled down and looks healthy and he looks in great shape.
I found a picture of him as a yearling to compare with his recent pic at Washpool now as a 7 year old, 4 time Group 1 winner. (See photos on right).
No glory for the little champ this winter but he will hopefully get it on again in his defence of the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley again in September for the Spring Carnival.
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