Heathcote leaving tactics up to Rawiller in BTC Cup

Brisbane’s leading trainer Robert Heathcote will leave the riding tactics up to top Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller after BTC Cup favourite Buffering draw one from the outside at Doomben on Saturday.

Buffering gets his best chance to win at Group 1 level for the first time in the $400,000 Bundaberg Distilling Co. BTC Cup (1200m) but the job has become slightly harder coming up with barrier fourteen in the fifteen horse field.

Bookies have eased Buffering slightly to $2.60, but one of his main rivals, last start Group 1 winner Temple Of Boom will jump from the outside gate.

The Tony Gollan trainer Temple Of Boom is on the third line of betting at $11 while John O’Shea’s filly Sea Siren is second favourite at $6.50.

Heathcote was non-committal on his riding instructions after the horror draw and said that he would leave the riding tactics up to Rawiller.

“I’m not going to formulate any plans just now and I’ll probably leave it up to Nash Rawiller to work out,” Heathcote said.

“There’s no better judge on a frontrunner than Nash Rawiller.”

Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim has recovered from a virus which was responsible for him finishing last of seventeen in the Group 1 $400,000 Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 7, will also represent the Heathcote stable, jumping from barrier seven.

Noted frontrunner Buffering should have no trouble crossing the field in the run to the first turn and the only other runner who could possibly match him is Adebisi who drew two to the inside of him at twelve.

The Desleigh Forster trainer Adebisi jumped cleanly with Chris Munce when he led all the way to score an easy win in the Listed Battery World Australia Bribie Handicap (1110m) at Doomben on April 14 but then couldn’t match it with Buffering in the $100,000 WFA Coca-Cola Amatil (1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 28 on a slow track.

Adebisi compounded badly at Eagle Farm and was beaten over twenty-two lengths with Buffering scoring a runaway seven lengths win over Scenic Blast.

Forster was mystified with the poor performance, blaming the rain affected track and has since reported to Racing Queensland Stewards that the four year old has been working well and no abnormalities had been detected from blood tests taken in the days following the defeat.

Munce has stuck with Adebisi and is hoping he is back to his best for the weight for age contest on Saturday and will no doubt let the Shovhog gelding use his tremendous gate speed to take up a handy possition.

Boom New Zealand jockey James McDonald will be hoping his winning form continues after securing his first Group 1 win in Hong Kong on the John Moore trained Xtension in the HK$12m The BMW Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

McDonald has a had a stellar couple of months dominating the Auckland Cup carnival with Group 1 wins on Scarlett Lady, Shez Sinsational and Silent Achiever.

He will be back on board Temple Of Boom for Gollan after riding his first Group 1 winner in Australia on the five year old in the $350,000 The James Boag Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick on April 21.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.