The Gillian Heinrich and Ben Rodgers training partnership is almost too successful for its own good in getting their two-year-olds ready to race.
The partnership accepted with seven runners out of a field of 15 at Doomben on Saturday – Cool Mover, Zinzi, Cabin Fever, Catalina Miss, Serious Doubts, Run All Night and Triple Arrow.,
Zinzi and Cool Mover are also entered for Canterbury in Sydney.
It is believed to be the most horses from the one stable to accept in a Brisbane race since the late Jim Atkins was training for Alfred Grant and had a similar number in an Eagle Farm two-year-old in 1969.
Rodgers said it was unusual to have so many two-year-olds ready to race at the one time but it was the way things had turned out.
“Usually they go shin sore and are immature and you turn them out. But while we have spelled a few these have all trialled well enough,” Rodgers said.
“Then they all worked well Tuesday morning so we decided to accept with them all at Doomben and in Sydney.”
“In the end we will probably have four or so of them racing here and in Sydney.”
Rodgers said he was confident all would race well but as with all early season two-year-old races the quality of most of the opposition was unknown.
Heinrich has long been considered one of the best trainers in Queensland, especially with two-year-olds.
Her big race wins include the 2010 Magic Millions Classic with Military Rose.
Heinrich has won a battle with bowel cancer but decided to scale back the pressure of race training and went into a partnership with Rodgers earlier this year.
Rodgers worked with Heinrich for five years and was her stable foreman when she underwent cancer treatment last year.
The combination has been in fine form, winning races with Eliminator and Primal Flight at Eagle Farm in the past week.
“Things are starting to come together nicely and it is great having Gillian on hand to lend her experience,” Rodgers said.
