Availability Shows Class But Interstate Trip Still Undecided

Availability's narrow victory at Eagle Farm has left trainer Rob Heathcote with a dilemma whether to send the talented three-year-old to Sydney and Melbourne for the spring.

Heathcote was set to confirm an interstate trip for the son of Exceed and Excel had the gelding won convincingly but his winning margin of only a long head over Lucky Tycoon in the QTIS Programmed Maintenance Services Handicap (1000m) may prompt a rethink.

"I'll see how he pulls up after this run before making a decision," Heathcote said.

Heathcote would have preferred a longer distance for Availability who scored a stunning win on debut over 1110 metres at Doomben last month.

"I partly blame myself as I tried to freshen him up because of the drop back in distance today," Heathcote said.

"I  would have preferred a longer distance, preferably 1200 metres."

Heathcote rates Availability highly and compared him favourably to the stable's flag bearer, Buffering, who campaigned successful in Sydney and Melbourne last spring.

"He's been an exciting horse from the first day he stepped foot into my stable," Heathcote said.

"We had to lead on him today but had it been 1200 metres we could have ridden him quietly.

"I haven't ruled out a Sydney trip yet and he's done a good job considering it's still his first preparation."

Winning jockey Jim Byrne said Availability had a bright future and believed he'll be even better if ridden off the pace.

"He's not a leader and is definitely a better chaser," Byrne said.

"He's still extremely green but once he learns what it's all about he's going to measure up to lot better races.

"We haven't got to the bottom of him yet."

Heathcote sent Buffering to Sydney last year where he was runner-up in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm in August before being floated to Melbourne to finish second on a heavy track in the G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington in September.

Buffering was back on a float again to Sydney to claim the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick and also finished second in the Listed Brian Crowley at Randwick before returning to Melbourne for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in October, finishing a close fourth to Star Witness.

Racing Queensland Web News

Photo: Graham Potter