Heavens Above is a Group One winner in waiting
Heavens Above is a Group One winner in waiting in more ways than one.
The talented Tim Martin-trained mare begins a campaign aimed at the major Sydney carnival races in Saturday’s Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill.
Last year her autumn campaign ended with a second to Azkadellia in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes with the winner now the subject of an lengthy investigation into her ownership bona fides.
Azkadellia could be stripped of her Group One win if Victorian stewards find against the registered owners and Heavens Above would be promoted.
But for now Martin is keen to get her going again with other elite-level races in mind so she can get one in her own right.
The Group Two Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) has attracted 16 entries with Vinery Stud Stakes winner Single Gaze given 58kg top weight and Heavens Above 54kg.
“She hasn’t had a barrier trial but she’s had a course proper gallop at Rosehill this morning (Tuesday),” Martin said.
“She will obviously improve on what she does on Saturday but it’s a nice race to kick her off in and fits in well with three weeks to the Coolmore Classic.
“She’s entered for the Doncaster and will be nominated for the Queen Of The Turf again.
“All going well I’d like to take her to Brisbane and try her in the Doomben Cup. I think now she is an older mare she’s looking for 2000 metres.
“As a young horse she ran in the Vinery Stud Stakes and Queensland Oaks won by Winx but she didn’t handle the longer trips then.”
In-form jockey Adam Hyeronimus will replaced regular rider Tye Angland in the Millie Fox and the Coolmore Classic (1500m).
“I’ve booked Adam for both races because she won’t get Tye’s weight in the Coolmore,” Martin said.
“He is a strong rider who is in good form.”
Hyeronimus rides mostly for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and recently won the Tasmanian Derby for Tulloch Lodge on Northwest Passage and on Saturday steered veteran Ecuador to third in the Group One CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
