Tabulate Compiles Four Wins

Jim Byrne returns to scale with his fourth win aboard Tabulate (Noel Pascoe photo)

Robert Heathcote continues to watch the wins come in for Tabulate.

The five-year-old gelding made it four on the trot when he sped home to victory in the Listed Hogs Breath Tails Stakes 2150m at Eagle Farm on May 1.

Jockey Jim Byrne earned his fourth straight win on the horse after manoeuvring from an outside barrier and last place to produce a strong run down the outside in the straight to secure the win by three quarters of a length.

“There wasn’t much tempo in the race,” said Byrne. “They did start to pick up the tempo just passing the 1200m but they got some pretty soft sections mid-race.

“I was nearly going to stay on the fence and ride for luck. When Scotty Seamer (Attallus) started to make a move on his horse I tried to jump on his back.

“Royal Hope (Jason Taylor) layed in and left him a bit flat footed and took him wide.”

Encosta Tszyu (Bobby El-Issa) ended in second place a half neck in front of Royal Hope in a race that had the whole field spread ready to take the win. But it was Tabulate’s speed that got him there first.

“He has that quality that all trainers like to have in a horse over 2000m, he’s got a lovely change up gear,” explained Heathcote. “He’s got a nice turn of foot and that’s what ultimately gets him to the line first.

“We’re not silly we know the first across the line is the winner but it’s how they do it. This horse can travel at the tail of the field and come with a big sprint and win. He’s done that in his last couple of wins.

“Its not as if he’s winning through good luck, he’s winning because I think he’s better than them at the moment.”

Even after four wins in a row, both Byrne and Heathcote are adamant there’s a big race win to come from Tabulate.

“Any horse that can win three or four in a row they’re going pretty good,” said Heathcote. “There’s been a few knockers suggesting he hasn’t been beating a lot of quality. He showed them. He came from last and did the job nicely.

“Any stayer with a turn of foot is going to win some nice races.

“Jimmy was always confident. He was pleased when he picked up the ride on the horse.

“He’d watched him in a couple of his earlier runs where he was a little bit unlucky as well and I’ve got to say Jim’s timing has been just about spot on with him every time.
“Anyone who wins we find it hard to criticise but I have to say Jim has a nice affinity with the horse now that’s for sure.

“Likewise, Tabulate’s one of those horses that’s got that special quality as a stayer. He’s got a nice turn of foot.”

Tabulate entered Heathcote’s stable from New Zealand. The gelding visited the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival with Richard Otto, who trains a lot of owner John Thompson’s horses.

“John Thompson is a passionate racing man and he has a lot of horses in New Zealand and he races a lot of horses in Australia,” said Heathcote.

“Convenience-wise and for practicality he decided to leave Tabulate here and thankfully they decided to leave him with me and the rest is history.

“He was really unlucky with his first couple of runs for me. I noticed very early on that he’s a horse with definite promise, particularly when I got him up over his right distance.

“Once we got him up over that distance he started this sequence of wins with a second which very nearly could have been a win, so conceivably it could have even been five in a row.”

On the potential agenda for Tabulate are the Ipswich, Caloundra and Tattersall’s Cups.

QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – May 5