Gundy Son Makes Heathcote's Day

Five-year-old gelding Gundy Son came home on the outside of a wall of horses to win the Listed Strategic Airlines Chief De Beers 1100m at Doomben on Saturday, May 28.

Equal favourite ($4.40) Gundy Son (Falvelon-Dantibes’ Treasure) claimed the title by a mere half neck from Metallurgical, ridden by Scott Galloway

In what was a close contest for third, $101 roughie Nickiera (Matthew Palmer) came up with the goods by a short neck.

Other equal race favourite Balavan (Dwayne Dunn) came in ninth one and a half lengths behind the winner.

Gundy Son was Robert Heathcote’s only winner for the day, who just had one of ‘those days’.

“There has been a bit of carnage for us today, things just haven’t worked out. Our barriers were tough and Buffering’s run on paper was seemingly disappointing but I’m willing to put a line straight through it,” Heathcote said.

“It was just one of those runs where nothing went right for him but at least I’m going home with one winner.

“It was a lovely ride by Paul (Hammersley). At the 1100m I thought it was a shade short but I was a little bit wrong.

“Paul didn’t panic, he let him get back to third last, brought him to the outside and he just managed to get there in time.”

Gundy Son’s owners were all present at Doomben, and Heathcote was happy that they could end the day on a high.

Jockey Paul Hammersley had his heart in his mouth for a while through the race, but said he ended up with all the luck.

“Over journey races, he is going to be closer but he can pull a bit in these shorter races,” Hammersley said.

“He had been off the bridle for most of the race and once he got to the outside he peeled off and we got on nice.”

Gundy Son will now progress to either the Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes on June 19 or the Ramornie Handicap on July 13 in Grafton.

Heathcote finished off the day full of praise for the Brisbane Racing Club stating “I am really pleased for the club, they have had a great turn out here today, and it’s been a super day’s racing.”

RACING Queensland web news: Elaine Dittman – May 30

Photo by Noel Pascoe