Heathcote considers Hong Kong races
Tuesday, 13 March 2012:
In
a rare era when Australia has produced the world's two best sprinters,
Black Caviar and Hay List, trainer Rob Heathcote is considering his
first overseas venture with his star Buffering.
Buffering has met
Black Caviar and Hay List four times and been placed on every occasion
including the Queenslander's narrow defeat by Hay List in the Group One
Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
Heathcote has been
approached by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to gauge his interest in sending
Buffering for the Group One International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in
December.
"I was asked by an official from the Hong Kong Jockey
Club after Buffering ran third in the Lightning if I was interested in
sending him over for the big sprint race in December," Heathcote said.
"It
was a tentative invitation and I've already spoken to Danny Bougoure
who won the race twice with Falvelon about the best way to get there.
"Danny
suggested staying in Melbourne after he campaigns in the spring as the
plane leaves direct from Melbourne to go to Hong Kong."
Buffering
and Hay List are set to clash again in the Group One William Reid
Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday week before the Queenslander
returns home to prepare for the Brisbane winter carnival.
Heathcote
is awaiting word whether Black Caviar will also return to Brisbane for
the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) in May or head to Adelaide for her final
run before heading to Royal Ascot in England.
A decision from
trainer Peter Moody is expected anytime about whether Black Caviar
chases her record 20th straight win in Brisbane or in Adelaide ahead of
the wonder mare's first overseas trip.
Heathcote is already
resigned to meeting Hay List again in the BTC Cup after trainer John
McNair confirmed a Queensland trip and not Singapore was the favoured
option with his champion after the Sydney autumn.
Buffering ran third to Black Caviar and Hay List in last year's weight-for-age feature.
"It's good news for the Brisbane carnival that Hay List could be coming back here," Heathcote said.
"If
he does then I'll be doing with Buffering what Hay List has had to do
every time he met Black Caviar, that's go around for second.
"But that will only be if Black Caviar doesn't come."
Hay List could campaign up to three times in Sydney after his William Reid Stakes assignment.
McNair
said his options included the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1100m) at
Rosehill on March 31 before two Group One attempts in the TJ Smith
Stakes (1200m) and All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next month.
Heathcote won his only Group One race with Woorim in last month's Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
Woorim followed up his Oakleigh Plate win with an eye-catching fifth in the Newmarket Handicap.
"Woorim
will also have his final run in Melbourne in the William Reid before he
goes to Sydney for the George Ryder and Doncaster Mile," Heathcote
said.
"Buffering will come home to run in the Victory Stakes
which he won last year followed by the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000 while
Woorim will be my Stradbroke runner this year."
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