Rob Heathcote never got the chance to see star mare Startantes run in Sydney because of the weather but was toasting a treble in his home state.

Trenton Akers

2 min read

October 8, 2022 - 6:11PM

Rob Heathcote got the full racing package on Saturday.

The Group 1-winning trainer was in Sydney to see his star mare Startantes run in the $1m Silver Eagle, but as it turned out, there is no place like home.

As rain bucketed down at Randwick, he never even got the chance to see Startantes run, with the stewards calling them off after race six.

His horses ran riot at Eagle Farm however, continuing a golden run of form from the stable with Drive A Deel, Ekaterina and Extremist winning on the day.

Ironically, it was Startantes’ half-sister Ekaterina that stole the show, taking out the QTIS 3YO Handicap (1200m) in barnstorming fashion.

It continues an incredible run for the family, which dates back to Cantantes for Heathcote and produced winner after winner.

“Ekaterina is from the amazing family of mine who has now produced over 80 winners for me,” he said.

“The timing for these horses winning really has been exceptional, they were there to win and they performed.

“It’s funny how it all works out really, I’m sitting here at the airport in Sydney having not even watched Startantes run, and I have had three winners in Brisbane.

“They have been going all right for a while back at home, they were the right horses in the right races.”

Drive A Deel continued an exceptional run of form for Heathcote with some recent stable acquisitions, after he pulled off a plunge with Sweet Margot May a week earlier.

Heathcote said he expects the Silver Eagle to now be run next Saturday, which he will have no option but to run in.

“At the end of the day, they will probably run the Silver Eagle next Saturday,” he said.

“We have to run, so that’s what we will do.

 

“It happened to me once before, I got to Melbourne for a race, they were called off, so I turned around and came straight back home.”