Latest news with #RobertHeathcote
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Prince of Boom could be retired if he doesn't show enough in Wednesday's 2025 Ramornie Handicap
Ramornie Handicap contender Prince Of Boom could be retired unless he can rediscover his old form in the $200,000 Listed race over 1200m at Grafton on Wednesday. The Robert Heathcote -trained gelding, who has been battling hoof issues, hasn't won since taking out the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) two years ago. And jockey Aaron Bullock faces a monumental challenge to win the time-honoured sprint on the six-year-old after Prince Of Boom drew gate 20 (including emergencies). Heathcote's fellow Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida scratched Metalart from the Ramornie on Monday afternoon after the last-start WJ Healy Stakes winner drew barrier 19. Metalart was a $5.50 chance with bookmakers before the barrier draw. The race favourite is the Richard Litt -trained gelding Barber ($4, barrier four), with the ex-Godolphin sprinter's most recent victory coming in the $250,000 Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 10. Heathcote spoke to Racenet on Monday from the Rocky Mountains in Canada, where he is holidaying with his family, and admitted Prince Of Boom faced a rocky future if he couldn't turn around his fortunes on Wednesday. The son of Spirit Of Boom finished last in the WJ Healy on June 28 at Eagle Farm. Heathcote will also saddle up The Big Goodbye in the Ramornie, which the gelding won as a five-year-old in 2023. The Big Goodbye has been freshened up nicely after suffering a stone bruise in his hoof that led to an infection, similar to what happened to star stablemate Rothfire in the lead-up to the $3m Stradbroke Handicap last month. 'It's fair to say they're past their best but if they can recover some of their past form then they're going to be competitive,' Heathcote said about his pair, who are both $11 in the market. Prince Of Boom goes bang in W.J Healy Stakes! @clarkyhk the king of front running rides delivers again for Robert Heathcote who trains the quinella. — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 24, 2023 'Prince Of Boom is a $1.4 million earner and on his best day, he would beat these but he's a horse that suffers from chronic hoof issues. 'He's an ongoing source of frustration but I reckon we've got him right going into this race. 'I can shout from the highest mountain saying 'he's spot-on' but we won't really know until he's under pressure at the 300m mark. 'It's a hard race so my two will have to step up and be counted. Certainly Prince of Boom, his future is clouded unless he can recover his old form. 'His desire is still there but his feet are causing him problems.' The Big Goodbye overhauls a very brave Ranges in the 2023 Ramornie! Martin Harley with a peach for the Robert Heathcote yard! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 12, 2023 Schweida had never entered a horse into the Ramornie Handicap before this week but he was ready to have a crack with Metalart until the barrier draw cruelled his hopes of vying for the winner's $109,000 in prizemoney. In a wide-open race, there are five gallopers in the market at $8 or under. They are Barber ($4), Compelling Truth ($5), Midnight In Tokyo, Sha Of Gomer and Tribeca Star (all $8). Leading Sydney trainer Peter Snowden has won the Ramornie six times, either solo or with his son Paul, including last year with Ka Bling, but does not have a horse in this year's edition.
The Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
2024 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan suspended
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan has copped a 13-day suspension for careless riding from an incident at Doomben on Saturday. Queensland stewards suspended Dolan after he restrained his mount She Ours to a position behind Estrondo when 'insufficiently clear' of Chief In Charge (Damien Thornton) in the final race of the meeting. The stewards' report stated that Chief In Charge had to 'severely check to avoid the heels of She Ours', the $2.70 favourite which finished runner-up to Noble Decree. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Matt Hoysted-trained Chief In Charge placed 11th out of 12 runners in the $85,000 3YO Handicap (1350m). Dolan, who stunned the nation after winning last year's Melbourne Cup on $91 roughie Knight's Choice, pleaded guilty to the careless riding charge. His suspension will start next Sunday and he will be free to return to riding on Saturday, August 2. Irish jockey Dolan steered the Kris Lees-trained gelding Hawker Hall to victory in Saturday's opening race, a Class 3 over 1110m. He has been booked for six rides at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, including two for Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote.
News.com.au
30-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ben Thompson is confident he will return to Brisbane as a much better jockey following his stint in Hong Kong
Ben Thompson is confident he will return to Brisbane in July as a much better jockey following his 18-month stint in the frenetic and cut-throat world of Hong Kong racing. The 27-year-old will finish up in the Asian racing mecca on July 16 and fly home the following day to be with his wife and former jockey Stephanie Thornton and their young child Harry. And leading Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote has welcomed Thompson's imminent return to Brisbane's riding ranks, rating him in the 'top three' jockeys in the River City. Thompson last week withdrew his application to continue riding in Hong Kong for another six months, saying 'it felt like the right move' to head back to Brisbane. 'I've had great support fortunately since being here and received a good number of rides (352 this season) but I just felt it was in my best interests, both professionally and personally, to go back to Brisbane,' he told Racenet from Hong Kong on Monday. 'It's been the highlight of my career being here and it is a place that I'd love to return. But I just feel I can take the experience from here home and see how we go. 'But it'd be a dream to return (to Hong Kong) some time down the track.' Thompson has been through a lean trot, having not won a race since April, and has notched eight victories in Hong Kong this season, one behind fellow Brisbane jockey Jimmy Orman, who has extended his contract in the region until February 17. 'When you're only riding twice a week on the greatest stage in racing, winners are hard to come by, it's just part of it,' said Thompson, who has won more than HK$22m (AUS$4.2m) in prizemoney so far this season. 'It's been a surreal experience and without doubt the most rewarding and challenging chapter of my career. 'You're rubbing shoulders with the world's elite riders and they're permanent fixtures, the likes of Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman and Andrea Atzeni. 'These are jockeys I've idolised so it's been a great experience watching them ply their trade.' And Thompson, who acts as his own riding agent in Hong Kong, has no doubt he's a superior jockey to when he left Australian shores in February last year. 'Everything happens at such a fast pace here and you have to think so quick,' he said about riding in Hong Kong. 'From the time you jump out the gates it's all systems go and you only get one chance. 'Off the track you're chasing horses that you've raced that day and trying to get your backside on them for the next time they run. 'Everything moves at such a fast rate and you have to be so dialled in. I'd like to think that has left me much better off for my return to Brisbane.' Heathcote said he would have no hesitation in getting Thompson on his horses when the jockey makes his comeback to racing in Brisbane in the August 2 metropolitan meeting at Eagle Farm. 'Not only is he a lightweight rider but he's a thorough gentleman, he's hard working and he's a quality jockey,' the trainer said. 'He'll get as much support from my stable as I can give him. 'He's brilliant with form and he's an A-grade rider. He'll certainly be in the top three jockeys in Brisbane.' Thompson will take time off from his busy schedule on Saturday to watch star greyhound Tim Zoo contest the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Q2 Parklands. The gifted chaser is trained by Ben's father, champion trainer Jason Thompson, and is owned by a syndicate which includes Ben. 'My parents were fortunate enough to win the Brisbane Cup last year with Flying Zulu so hopefully they can do it again,' he said. 'The dogs are my biggest outlet away from the gallops.'
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Abounding is due for some luck in Tuesday's barrier draw for the 2025 Group 1 Tatt's Tiara
Tatt's Tiara contender Abounding is surely bound to get some luck in Tuesday's barrier draw for the $700,000 Group 1 at Eagle Farm. The numbers aren't pretty for the Robert Heathcote -trained mare – 12, 13, 12, 13, 15, 10 and 16 are the gates she's jumped from in her past seven races. In fact, Abounding hasn't drawn a single-figure barrier since June last year when she placed fourth in the $300,000 Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm. A frustrated Heathcote insisted punters hadn't seen the best of the daughter of Rich Enuff due to her horrendous draws. Her most recent victory came in the $160,000 Listed Tatt's Classic (1200m) at Doomben last November when Irish jockey Martin Harley rode her with cover from gate 10 before getting a split and charging home. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I actually contacted Racing Queensland and said 'how is it possible that a horse can draw half-a-dozen bad barriers in a row?',' Heathcote said. 'And the double-digit barriers that she's been drawing have been giving her really disadvantaged runs. 'Her runs have all been good, with zero luck. We've had to go back, leaders win. We go forward and she's caught wide and that's a big disadvantage. 'We firmly believe she's good enough to win a Group race and every rider has said 'give her a run and she'll be in the finish'.' Abounding over the top in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas! @mmsnippets @GCTurfClub @FirstLight_FLR — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2024 • If Heathcote's bad luck continues, he can take solace in the fact that plenty of Tatt's Tiara winners have won from wide barriers at the roomy Eagle Farm, including last year's champion Bella Nipotina (gate 15 of 17). Heathcote said he was yet to book a jockey in the Tatt's Tiara for Abounding, who is a $15 chance for the 1400m race for fillies and mares. Firestorm ($3.50), Floozie ($4.50) and Tashi ($6) dominate the market, with that trio filling out the top three in the traditional lead-up race, the Dane Ripper Stakes, on June 14. Harley has been a regular rider for Abounding, although Tommy Berry was in the saddle for last month's Group 3 BRC Sprint (sixth) and then Jason Collett for the Dane Ripper (sixth). Abounding lunges and finishes best in the Gold Edition Plate. — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2023 'We tried to change our luck by putting Tommy Berry on but he's already got a Sydney ride for this Saturday,' Heathcote said. 'He would've happily taken the ride if he was available. I don't know yet, I'll work on that during the week. 'I'm just hoping we have a change of fortune with barriers but she's good enough to win the Tatt's Tiara, don't worry about that.' Abounding has won five races from 22 starts and earned almost $2.4m in prizemoney, with the bulk of that haul coming from her thrilling triumph in the $3m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on the Gold Coast in January last year.
