HEATHCOTE HOPES ON RUNNERS BEARING FRUIT
ROB Heathcote says Prince Of Boom and Startantes are like apples and oranges – impossible to compare – but feels bookmakers have got it right in their assessment of his star threeyear-olds in Saturday’s Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben.
Group 2 winner Prince Of Boom, back to form this campaign with two dominant wins after a wind operation, is the $3 favourite for the 1110m dash and has drawn well in barrier two.
Startantes, the two-time Group 1placed filly last seen going down a whisker in the Surround Stakes at Randwick in February, is rated an $8 chance from barrier 12.
Startantes is likely to be back near last and conceding Prince Of Boom and other key rivals a big start.
Heathcote said his duo was like chalk and cheese and it was hard to compare their respective ability as they had such different racing styles.
But he agrees with how the bookies have priced them in the Listed race.
“I think the market has got it right. Prince Of Boom has got barrier two and he will be pinging the gates and be out on speed,” Heathcote said.
“From the barrier Startantes is going to be well back but we know she is genuine Group 1 class and she will be coming home late and strong.
“I do think either of my horses could win but I also think the (betting) market has got it right.
“It’s really apples and oranges with these two horses. One (Prince Of Boom) is a big, powerful, hulking sprinter who races on the speed and the other (Startantes) is a little weed who gets out the back and charges home.
“This really feels like the winter carnival is firing up on Saturday. I’m excited.”
Heathcote has set the Group 1 double of the Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt’s Tiara as the primary winter goals for Startantes, the small pocket-rocket filly who is known as
“The Little Pumpkin” around his
Eagle Farm stables.
His plans are more fluid for
Prince Of Boom.
“For Prince
Of Boom, there will be the Gold
Coast Guineas and then maybe the Fred
Best and potentially that could open the door to the Stradbroke Handicap,” Heathcote said. “If not, then we would look at the second-tier sprint races over the winter carnival.”
Heathcote has another key runner at Doomben on Saturday with filly Crymenotears a $9.50 chance in the Listed Princess Stakes.
“She can be hard to ride as she is a bit headstrong and can do a lot wrong,” Heathcote said. “But she has earned her place in this field.”