Trainer Rob Heathcote will consider a trip to Melbourne for Excellantes if the three-year-old continues his love affair with the QTIS scheme at Doomben on Saturday.
Excellantes will attempt to win QTIS bonus prizemoney for the fourth time in his career when the gelding lines up in the Jim Beam Handicap (1110m).
Heathcote, who returned from an overseas holiday on Sunday, has been a massive supporter of the QTIS and QTIS 600 schemes in Queensland since their inception and doesn’t want authorities to modify them.
The QTIS and QTIS 600 schemes are now under review, the result of the Queensland Racehorse Owners’ Association (QROA) lobbying Racing Queensland for increases to midweek and provincial prizemoney at maiden and Class 1 level.
The QROA has put forward a discussion document centred on the future of QTIS and associated schemes.
“I’ve been a massive supporter of the QTIS scheme and I just hope they don’t go ahead with any haircut for the scheme,” Heathcote said.
“If Excellantes wins on Saturday it’ll be his fourth feature QTIS win.
“It’s been a highly-successful scheme and I wouldn’t like to see it or the QTIS 600 scheme changed in any way.”
Heathcote is set to claim Brisbane’s training honours for a third straight season.
“To win the title for a third time is a great achievement and we’re rapt,” Heathcote said.
“The stable has been very consistent over the last few years and we’re hopeful of being competitive again next season.”
Heathcote, who has a stranglehold on this season’s trainers’ title with 55.5 wins, has retained Damian Browne for Excellantes.
“Damian’s win on Excellantes last start was brilliant,” Heathcote said.
“He’s a super jockey and I’ve liked him from the first day he came over from New Zealand a few years ago.
“Excellantes’ win was superb last time and he’s won almost $200,000 mostly through the QTIS scheme.”
Heathcote is looking at taking a team of seven horses away to Sydney and Melbourne this spring including stable stars Buffering and Woorim.
“I was really impressed with Excellantes win last start which came off a hot speed and if he takes the next step I might send him to Melbourne,” he said.
Heathcote considered backing up Excellantes in last Saturday’s Listed Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm won by rising star Essington.
“I was going to run him against Essington in the Ascot last week but I thought he’s got plenty of time next season to be running in open company,” he said.
AAP TURF
