Jim Byrne and Tabulate have built a winning culture which continued through the Winter Carnival (Noel Pascoe photos)

Nothing short of brilliance was needed from Jim Byrne to hold off the New Zealand raiders in the Group 3 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup Handicap 2200m on Saturday, May 29.

The jockey overcame plenty of hurdles to guide Tabulate to his second Black Type victory in three starts for local trainer Robert Heathcote.

The victor was almost denied a start however, due to the strength of fields the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival has attracted.

“It shows the strength of our Carnival,” Heathcote said. “He won four in a row and made the field by one.

Heathcote was full of praise for Byrne and made it clear to all and sundry that the jockey’s efforts were appreciated as the trainer congratulated him after weighing in with a “you’re a…legend!”.

“I give Jimmy Byrne full credit.

“He settled worse than mid-field, he stole runs, he punched him through, and I love the way he hit the line.

“He (Byrne) said this horse has got a good win in him a long time ago.”

The mounting yard was full of foreign faces which included seven New Zealand hopefuls accompanied by six stayers from interstate.

Ironically one of the country’s great sprinters, Takeover Target, paraded in front of the crowd before making way for the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival distance runners.

In a copybook ride from Byrne, Tabulate was settled worse than mid-field while Sand Hawk (Craig Newitt) set a good clip out in front.

Byrne had the gelding by Honours List (IRE), out of Shurban, hug the rails entering the straight when others opted for better going in the centre of the track.

The five-year-old made an initial run which was repelled by a tough customer in Albertinelli (Blake Shinn) who had sat in the first few runners for the trip.

Tabulate lunged again in the final moments to force the judges to deliberate over the finish photo.

Tabulate was awarded a short half head win and handed Heathcote his second win on an exciting Doomben 10,000 Raceday.

The trainer previously picked up the Ambassador Travel QTIS 3YO Handicap 1200m with Princess Qualo who surprisingly returned to form in the wet.

Tabulate’s connections were obviously over the moon with the result.

Robert Heathcote has every reason to smile after picking up a double on Doomben 10,000 Raceday

“Today the tempo was there and we knew he’d handle the track,” Heathcote said. “Finally we drew a barrier that allowed us to be a little bit closer.

“We had to repel the boat refugees from New Zealand and we did it…but I had to use a kiwi horse to do it.”

Byrne received all the accolades from Heathcote, but the hoop was quick to forward his praise to Tabulate.

“Today he drew the good gate, and even though it was a muddling affair, I just kept getting up on the paint and made sure he had clear running in the straight,” Byrne said.

“He’s got a good turn of foot and can run nice sectionals, but as a general rule you need a good tempo in the race.”

The Clarry Conners-trained Albertinelli (IRE) secured a deserved second place, following Tabulate by a short half head.

Larry’s Never Late (NZ) jumped from barrier 16 and shadowed Albertinelli for the trip, who jumped from barrier 14.

Jockey Luke Nolen took the Rodney Douglas-trained four-year-old to a short neck third place who seemed to appreciate the step up in distance and drop in weight from his most recent outings.

Connections were worried about running a horse in this class of race after such a long preparation which has not slowed since November last year. Heathcote is not afraid to strike while the iron’s hot however.

The five-year-old has accumulated nine career wins from 31 starts, but it is his form since joining the Heathcote stable that would have connections doing back flips.

Culminating in the Premier’s Cup, Tabulate has recorded five wins from the last six starts.

Heathcote put the only failure, a ninth at Doomben on May 15, down to a lack of speed in front.

Tabulate will return to the track for the Group 2 Brisbane Cup on AAMI Stradbroke Raceday and will be faced with many of the same challengers that he repelled in the Premier’s Cup.

“This horse has been crying out for the 2400 metres,” Heathcote said throwing down the gauntlet. “It would be nice to win the local Cup.”

QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – May 31