Fillydelphia For Winter Stakes

Saturday 19 November, 2011
Glenn Davis
Trainer Rob Heathcote declared next year's Group One Winter Stakes as the long range goal for Fillydelphia following her commanding victory in the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
Ridden by Jim Byrne, Fillydelphia had 1-1/4 lengths to spare over Humma to give Heathcote the quinella in the 1600m feature.
Early leader Rockdale was a further three-quarters of a length away third.

While Heathcote believes the talented mare will prove an ideal contender for the Winter Stakes (1400m) next June, he's got some unfinished business with the four-year-old daughter of Bianconi during the summer.
"Her goals this campaign are the Recognition Stakes and Bernborough Handicap next month," Heathcote said.
"She's a quality mare and she showed that during the winter when she won the (Group Three) Rough Habit Plate.
"This is a time honoured race and she put a few to the sword out there. It may be argued she didn’t beat a quality field but she ran good time and she won with authority”.
Heathcote set Fillydelphia on a path to the Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) during the winter but she ran well, she failed to stay and finished a solid seventh after being caught wide the whole way to New Zealand filly, Scarlett Lady.
"I've believe her best distance is probably around 1600 metres and she has all the right credentials for the Winter Stakes," he said.
Heathcote was also thrilled with Humma's effort to get as close as he did to Fillydelphia in what was the eight-year-old's second start since May.
"Humma is an old marvel and he'll go on now to the Bernborough Handicap," he said.
The Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) on December 31 is the third leg of the Doomben summer series.