Premier trainer Robert Heathcote is confident promising mare Tomboy can emerge as a potential topliner when she chases her seventh win at Saturday’s Doomben meeting.
Tomboy will start in the Class 6 Handicap over 1350m and Heathcote rates her as potentially one of the best horses he’s trained.
“She has a bit of the X-factor about her. I like her a lot and I always have,” Heathcote said.
“Her last win was very emphatic and she gets in really well at the weights again on Saturday.
“She’s had a few soundness issues but she’s good now and she has the potential to be a very, very good racehorse.”
Tomboy is one of six runners Heathcote has confirmed for Saturday and he will decide on Thursday whether Excellantes will take his representation to seven after the sprinter gallops in the morning.
“He’s heading to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions the following week and I’ll make my mind up with him after he works,” Heathcote said.
Jim Byrne will partner Tomboy and Heathcote has also booked the leading hoop to partner Fillydelphia in the $200,000 Bernborough Handicap (1600m).
Heathcote warned punters he thought Fillydelphia had been harshly treated by the handicapper but he said the mare would run a solid race.
“She’s unfairly weighted. She’s got 57kg against the older horses but she’s a good mare and she’ll race well,” Heathcote said.
“It’s also her first run in nearly a month but I couldn’t start her before because she’d have got more weight had she run won or run a place.”
Consistent mare Hidden Kisses will be ridden by Brad Stewart when she starts in the Class 6 over 1615m and Heathcote is confident the four-year-old can win her third race this preparation.
“She is an extremely consistent horse and she’s racing really well this time in,” he said.
“She gets in well at the weights with 55.5kg and she’s on target for the Magic Millions Cup at her next run.
“Brad rides her really well and she’ll run boldly again.”
Heathcote’s other runners are Humma and Racing Heart in the Open Handicap (2020m) and Dux Bellorum in the One Metropolitan Win Handicap (1200m).
AAP TURF
