Snob puts foolish days behind him
STOUTLY bred gelding Monaco Snob has gone from stable fool to a possible staying star in the space of one campaign.
Monaco Snob, to be ridden by Micheal Hellyer, will be chasing his third straight win in the Hotspot Titanium Handicap (2200m) at the Sunshine Coast tomorrow.
Trainer Robert Heathcote won the staying race at Doomben last week with Kubis and he also rates Monaco Snob as a Saturday-class horse.
Heathcote’s wife Vicki is the major shareholder in Monaco Consul who cost only $24,000 as a yearling and has already won four races.
“To put it frankly when he came into the stables he was a fool,” Heathcote said. “He could do nothing right but all along I felt once the penny dropped you would see a pretty good stayer once he got out to 2200 metres on a big track.
“He was an impressive winner at the Sunshine Coast in midweek company and I see no reason he can’t step up to Saturday grade.
“He is by Monaco Consul and they get better with age and he is a case in point.”
Heathcote has not ruled out a tilt at the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) on the Gold Coast in January with Monaco Snob.
“I have paid up for him but it is a big step. We will see,” he said.
JOCKEY Micheal Hellyer has been able to parlay his first ride in a Group 1 race into a busy schedule at the Sunshine Coast tomorrow.
Hellyer has been booked to partner Baccarat Baby in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick tomorrow week.
But first he will have rides in all nine races at the Sunshine Coast tomorrow.
Hellyer is a perfect example of hard work paying off as he has always had plenty of ability but lacked chances on top horses.
He is rapidly approaching his 600th winner with about 80 of them coming in the past 12 months.
“I was riding in town on Saturdays and getting two or three rides,” Hellyer said.
“I decided to concentrate on the Gold Coast on Saturday’s and I was able to build up my contacts with the bigger stables.
“I have been on a bit of a roll in the past year so the thing is to keep it up.”
Hellyer, 30, is looking forward to his ride on Baccarat Baby who has won five in a row in Queensland.
“It is a big step up but she has done everything asked of her here and she won’t be out of place,” he said.
Hellyer won on Alpine Dancer for Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote at Doomben on Wednesday.
“Michael is the most improved jockey in Brisbane. He has always been a decent man and I am glad to see him get more chances,” Heathcote said.
Hellyer will have two rides for Heathcote tomorrow – on Monaco Snob in the Benchmark 75 (2200m) and Old Habits in the Open Handicap (1400m).
Old Habits will be up against Zamex, who trainer Matt Dunn believes has earned a return to metropolitan racing.
Zamex won two Highway races in Sydney and a Benchmark race at Ipswich on Cup day but in recent times has been campaigning in the cups races on the Northern Rivers on NSW.
He dead-heated for first with Future Event in the Murwillumbah Cup and also has the Grafton-hosted Maclean Cup on his trophy shelf.
“Zamex has been racing well and I think 1400m on the big Caloundra track will suit,” Dunn said.