Katsidis Reins With Racing Heart
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Racing Heart with Stathi Katsidis on board narrowly beats Schillinsworth, ridden by Ken Pope. NICHOLAS FALCONER
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THEY say experience is everything in horse racing, and champion jockey Stathi Katsidis proved that theory right at Corbould Park yesterday.
Katsidis rode Racing Heart to victory over 2000m in the Queensland Racehorse Owner’s Association Handicap.
The Brisbane-based jockey used every bit of his years of experience to bring the three-year-old from the middle of the pack to pip Schillinsworth at the line.
Katsidis decided to hold Racing Heart back a little after being worried about how his ride was handling the final turn.
“When they started turning from about the 800 he was struggling,” Katsidis said.
“Kenny Pope pushed up inside me, I just had to let him (Racing Heart) get rebalanced.
“By the time he rebalanced we were well into the straight. That’s 400m where the other horses were taking ground off him.
“Once he balanced up off the straight he worked the line and was too good for them.”
Racing Heart ($1.55) claimed the win ahead of the Ken Pope-ridden Schillinsworth ($2.60) and outsider Sliced ($11) on the cushion track.
Katsidis said he was planning to sit further back in the pack but the pace of the cushion track forced him to stay close to early leader Blue Hawaii, ridden by Chris Munce.
“I would have liked to have sat back a bit further but this track seems to be on pace,” he said.
“I had to ride him a little upside-down. When you see him in town he’ll be ridden mid-field and be flashing home late.
“Nice win, handled the track good which is always good seeing as not all horses handle this track.”
Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote said having Katsidis on board proved the difference.
“He’s not a good jockey, he’s one of the best,” he said. “I thought it was a very clever ride. He let the horse drop back coming to the home turn.
“Whilst he thought the horse was travelling okay, his experience told him sometimes horses don’t travel too well going around the turn.
“He dropped back a bit even though he knew there was plenty left in the horse.”
