Heathcote In Elite Company

Saturday 23 July, 2011
Brisbane's premier trainer Robert Heathcote wrote himself into the history books when his "Super S's", Simmering and Solzhenitsyn, scored at Eagle Farm.
Heathcote, who had his third premiership wrapped up before the start of racing on Saturday, lifted his season tally to 60-1/2 winners making him only the third trainer in 160 years of Brisbane racing to pass 60 winners for the season.
He joined Bruce McLachlan and Gerald Ryan in reaching the milestone which in Brisbane is akin to Sydney and Melbourne's mark of 100.
There are fewer race meetings in Brisbane than the southern capitals and Brisbane trainers do not have the same number of horses on their books, making even 50 winners a great effort. "I feel honoured to join two greats such as Bruce and Gerald in passing the mark. It is also good to do with two horses with great potential in Simmering and Solzhenitsyn," he said.
Simmering ($2.10 in to $1.70) won the Southbank Insurance Brokers Hcp (2112m) and will have at least one more run before spelling.
Heathcote thinks Simmering can win a major race next winter in Brisbane.
Solzhenitsyn ($2.70) got up in the last bound to beat Belltone ($2.25 fav) by a short half-head in the Des Lambert Memorial Plate (1400m).
Heathcote will now look for a suitable 1350 to 1600m race for Solzhenitsyn who was originally trained by Richard Otto in New Zealand.