Trainer Rob
Heathcote has no plans to add Fire Up Fifi to his interstate spring team despite the mare's
easy win in the Madison Cleaning Services Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Fire Up
Fifi, ridden by former New Zealand apprentice Ryan Hurdle, downed Angusroy by
2-1/2 lengths with Rhetoric, a further three-quarters of a length back third.
"She
deserved to go for a break on a winning note and she's done a good job this
campaign,"
Heathcote said.
"She's
really matured and developed this campaign.
"She's
gone from a midweek Class Three to open company in one campaign and I put that
down to patience and not rushing her."
Heathcote
has a strong team aiming for the spring spearheaded by stable star Buffering.
Buffering has
arrived back in Heathcote stable's after a well deserved spell following an injury
riddled winter carnival campaign.
The son of
Mossman, who has earned almost $1.8 million in prizemoney, is still chasing his
first win at the highest level.
During the
winter, Buffering suffered a stone bruise and was only narrowly beaten by star
filly Sea Siren in the G1 Doomben 10,000 in May .
At his
following start, Buffering finished second to the Peter Moody-trained Mid Summer
Music in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at
Eagle Farm in June.
Heathcote
is delighted Black Caviar won't be contesting the spring this year after three of the gelding's G1 defeats came at the hands of
the wonder mare.
Buffering
will be joined in Melbourne by Excellantes, Woorim and exciting prospect Solzhenitsyn.
Heathcote made
special mention of Hurdle's handling on Fire Up Fifi who was trapped wide in
the early stages.
"He
kept a cool head and she let down beautifully for him in the straight," he
said.
Hurdle, 17,
is the third New Zealand apprentice to call Brisbane home in recent months
after star juniors Maija Vance and Rosie Myers relocated earlier this year.
He had been
on loan to Heathcote since May before Racing Queensland formalised his
apprenticeship to the premier trainer last month.
Fire Up Fifi
provided Hurdle with his first Saturday metropolitan win when successful at
Eagle Farm last month.
Hurdle, who
rode more than 40 winners in New Zealand including a Group Three race, is the
son of Palmerston North trainer Peter Hurdle.
His mother Nikki is also a trainer.
Racing Queensland webnews August 11
Photo: Trackside Photography
