Heathcote Stakes Summer Series Claim

Saturday 12 November, 2011
Glenn Davis
Trainer Rob Heathcote staked a serious claim to win all three legs of the Doomben summer series after Work The Room's upset win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Work The Room ($10), having his first start since August, stormed home from second last on the home turn to outclass stablemate Excellantes ($1.80 fav) by 1-1/4 lengths in the Better Build Constructions Handicap (1200m).
Audacious Spirit ($3.60) was a half-head away third.

Work The Room, a half-brother to former top stayer Zipping, and Excellantes are part of a strong team Heathcote has headed for the summer series which begins with the Group Three George Moore Stakes (1200m) on December 10.
Heathcote was surprised with the ease of Work The Room's win.
"I thought Excellantes would beat him over 1200 metres," Heathcote said.
"He wasn't the punter's pal last preparation but he's never missed a place first-up in his life and his lead up work has been super.
"He's a very good horse but he's had a few hoof issues and he can be susceptible to coughs and colds and the like!
"His main mission will be the Bernborough but we are happy to take anything else which comes along."
The Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) on December 31 is the final leg of the summer series and follows the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) two weeks earlier.
Only one horse, the Gordon Yorke-trained Natural Destiny, has won all three legs of the summer series when successful in 2006-07 but Heathcote is hopeful of winning the series with different horses. “I have a nice team of horses going forward with the couple who raced today, Fillydelphia, Solzhenitsyn and hopefull Gundy Son”, Heathcote said!
"I was happy with Excellantes' run but statistics don't lie. He's never won first-up and he has had a huge blow after the race so he will take a lot of improvement out of the race." he said.