Rob Heathcote’s stable foreman Melissa Leitch is hopeful her recent run of success in the absence of her holidaying boss can continue at Doomben on Wednesday.
Heathcote, who has a 21-1/2 win lead over Liam Birchley and John Thompson in his bid for successive Brisbane training premierships, is due back from a three-week overseas holiday on Sunday.
In Heathcote’s absence, Leitch has saddled up five metropolitan winners including her latest triumph with Woorim in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra on Saturday.
“It’s been a team effort and it’s not just me,” Leitch said.
Leitch will saddle up four Doomben runners and rates Diamond Heist in the Sky Racing Maiden Handicap (1040m) and Tomboy in the Qardss Handicap (1350m) as the stable’s best hopes.
Diamond Heist was rated unlucky not to win at his second start when the three-year-old hung out badly when runner-up to Rocker in an 1110-metre maiden at Doomben on June 15.
Tomboy landed a big betting plunge and looked impressive in a runaway class three victory over 1300 metres at Eagle Farm on June 29.
Diamond Heist, a son of Pure Theatre, has a white eye which is often called a “wild” eye.
“When a horse has a white eye they generally get spooked at everything that moves,” Leitch said.
“He does a lot of things in fear and we’ve tried using blinkers on him in barrier trials and trackwork but he goes too hard with them on.
“He’s not an easy horse to ride because of that but we’re hoping Damian Browne can nurse him along.
“His problem of hanging has only been in races as he runs as straight as a die in trackwork.”
Leitch has retained apprentice Ashley Butler who didn’t panic when Tomboy was caught wide before landing her $8 to $3.80 plunge win last start.
“Tomboy drew wide last time and never had any luck when she was caught out three wide,” Leitch said.
“It was a great win and she was going away from them at the end.”
Although Leitch is confident her run of luck can continue she doubts whether either sprinter will form part of Heathcote’s Melbourne spring team.
Heathcote could have up to seven horses in Melbourne for the spring including Woorim and Buffering who both campaigned there last spring.
Buffering is enjoying a short break following the winter carnival and will have two runs in Sydney before heading to Melbourne.
AAP TURF
