Stable News
Rob Heathcote lays down winter marker with Prince Of Boom
Tuesday, 18 Apr 2023
16th April 2023 by Trenton Akers
Rob Heathcote came back from Melbourne disappointed after Prince Of Boom's spring campaign didn't work out as planned, but he was walking on air on Saturday after his speed machine laid down a strong winter carnival marker.
The Eagle Farm trainer's confidence in the sprinter was tested during the spring, but faith was restored on Saturday when he blitzed his rivals in a hot Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m), beating home stablemate Rothfire in a winter carnival appetiser.
It also capped a big day for champion jockey Jimmy Orman, who landed a stakes double after taking out the Daybreak Lover a race earlier.
"Things didn't go our way in the spring, but he was the horse we think he can be today," a jubilant Heathcote said.
"When we failed down in Melbourne, we bit the bullet with a really long spell, brought him back and he has come out here today and done that.
"He will go to the Victory Stakes with Rothfire, then Prince Of Boom will go to the (Doomben) 10,000 while Rothy has a break and gets ready for the Kingsford-Smith."
Ironically Prince Of Boom's win cost Heathcote a bet with Orman, with the trainer confident his Group 1 champ Rothfire would beat the stablemate home.
"I lost that one," Heathcote laughed.
His Group 1-winning mare Startantes put in a slashing performance to mark her as the horse to beat for The Archer in Rockhampton in a fortnight's time.
Orman has been booked to ride the mare, with the race this year moved to a Sunday to avoid a clash with the metropolitan meeting on Saturday, opening the door for top jockeys to ride in the $775,000 slot race feature.
Rob Heathcote came back from Melbourne disappointed after Prince Of Boom's spring campaign didn't work out as planned, but he was walking on air on Saturday after his speed machine laid down a strong winter carnival marker.
The Eagle Farm trainer's confidence in the sprinter was tested during the spring, but faith was restored on Saturday when he blitzed his rivals in a hot Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m), beating home stablemate Rothfire in a winter carnival appetiser.
It also capped a big day for champion jockey Jimmy Orman, who landed a stakes double after taking out the Daybreak Lover a race earlier.
"Things didn't go our way in the spring, but he was the horse we think he can be today," a jubilant Heathcote said.
"When we failed down in Melbourne, we bit the bullet with a really long spell, brought him back and he has come out here today and done that.
"He will go to the Victory Stakes with Rothfire, then Prince Of Boom will go to the (Doomben) 10,000 while Rothy has a break and gets ready for the Kingsford-Smith."
Ironically Prince Of Boom's win cost Heathcote a bet with Orman, with the trainer confident his Group 1 champ Rothfire would beat the stablemate home.
"I lost that one," Heathcote laughed.
His Group 1-winning mare Startantes put in a slashing performance to mark her as the horse to beat for The Archer in Rockhampton in a fortnight's time.
Orman has been booked to ride the mare, with the race this year moved to a Sunday to avoid a clash with the metropolitan meeting on Saturday, opening the door for top jockeys to ride in the $775,000 slot race feature.
