Socceroos Kick Goal With Humma
Saturday, 5 December 2009
By Glenn Davis. AAP Sports
Socceroos defender Craig Moore kicked an early goal when former Sydney galloper Humma scored a decisive win in the T.I.S. Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
Humma is part-owned by Moore, his Socceroo teammate Scott Chipperfield and former national goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac who now plays in Greece for FC Kavalla, an Iskander Racing Syndicate based in Sydney and Soccer ‘personality’, Sam ‘Slugger’ Krslovic.
Moore, an avid racing fan, is also the skipper of Brisbane Roar who play Perth Glory in their A-league clash in Perth on Saturday night.
Humma, ridden by Larry Cassidy, travelled in fifth place most of the way before making his winning move before the home turn to score by three-quarters of a length over Showciti at his first middle-distance attempt over 2020 metres.
Humma was formerly trained in Sydney by Chris Waller before he was transferred to Brisbane's Robbie Heathcote in November last year.
The six-year-old is in only his second campaign for the Eagle Farm trainer and recorded his third win from 16 Brisbane starts but hes been a model of consistency and racing in career best form.
Heathcote will now test the waters with Humma for next year's Brisbane winter carnival campaign with a short staying campaign over the summer months.
"When he first came to me I was told he may never make a stayer and would perhaps struggle to get 2000 metres," Heathcote said.
"He's in a new environment here and the way he's racing suggests he might get further. The upcoming programme looks ideal for him”!
"I'll step him up further in two weeks time and give him another couple of runs before he goes for a spell and then gets ready for the winter staying races."
Cassidy believes Heathcote could be on the right track with the son of Iglesia.
"He's just won over 2000 metres so you can't say he can't stay," Cassidy said.
"I used to ride him in Sydney but he's a different horse up here in a new environment.". The final 600 mtr sectional of a very slick 34.1 made it vitually impossible for anything to come from behind him and win so tactically it was a master stroke from Cassidy to make a bold move and go forward at the 800.
That win takes his record to 6 wins, 11 2nds and 7 3rds for a purse of $267,000 earned to date and its fair to expect more to come.
