Heathcote Losing Cup Battle With Tabulate
- Friday, 21 January 2011 02:45
Trainer Rob Heathcote concedes he's losing the battle to have underrated stayer Tabulate ready in time for the Group One Auckland Cup at Ellerslie in March.
The 3200-metre feature was pencilled in for the six-year-old after his fine performances during last year's Brisbane winter carnival.
Tabulate, who hasn't raced since finishing seventh to Crossthestart in the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) in June, will resume in the www.brc.com.au Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
"Our plan has been the Auckland Cup in March but we're running out of options with all the bad weather we've had," Heathcote said.
"It's very doubtful he'll get to New Zealand now."
Heathcote has been forced to reshape Tabulate's summer campaign due to the loss of meetings caused by the recent deluge in southeast Queensland.
"He's been in work around eight weeks but 1600 metres is not ideal for him first-up," Heathcote said.
"I'd prefer it to be over 1400 metres and he'd have a chance but he just might need the run over this trip.
"I spoke to his owner, John Thompson, who lives in New Zealand and we've decided to take a few kilos off him to make it easier."
Apprentice Michael Hellyer, who claims two kilograms, will partner the gelding for the first time.
Heathcote hasn't ruled out a possible trip to Sydney in the autumn if Tabulate misses a trip across the Tasman.
"I'm not ruling out taking him to Sydney if we don't get to Auckland," he said.
"I thought he was very unlucky when he ran seventh in the Brisbane Cup last year.
"The Brisbane Cup was run to favour the leaders and he did a good job to come from near last and only got beaten three lengths."
Tabulate earned a shot at the winter staying races in Brisbane last year with four successive wins including the Listed Tails Stakes (2150m) at Eagle Farm on May 1.
After failing behind Crossthestart in the Group Three Chairman's Handicap (2020m) at Doomben on May 15, Tabulate claimed the Group Three Premier's Cup (2200m) at Doomben a fortnight later before the Brisbane Cup.
Heathcote also has Humma, a Jason Holder mount, engaged in the same race.
Humma beat only one runner home in his comeback in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) won by Zero Rock at Doomben on December 18.
"Humma is in the same boat as Tabulate and he may need a run or two more to find his best form," Heathcote said.
