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No Melbourne trip for Tomboy

Wednesday 20 July 2011
Garry Legg

Top trainer Robert Heathcote will resist the temptation to add promising filly Tomboy to his team preparing for an assault on the spring carnival in Melbourne.

Heathcote is not looking beyond Saturday's Total Sports Travel QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm with Tomboy.

He believes she is capable of reaching greater heights, but that is more likely to happen next year.

"We've run out of time for Melbourne with her, but I have no doubt she is destined for some black type," Heathcote said.

Tomboy has won her last three starts, the latest two against good city company at Eagle Farm and Doomben respectively.

The lightly-raced Murphy's Blu Boy filly was a slow learner, according to Heathcote.

"Some horses you take the plastic wrapper off and away they go, but not this filly," he said.

"She's a big, rangy girl and is one of those horses that has had to learn to race to a degree. I'm very pleased to say she's become a bit of a revelation.

"She's hit the line well at her last two runs and is racing with real enthusiasm and hopefully she can keep it going on Saturday."

Apprentice Michael Hellyer will claim two kilograms on Tomboy, who looks nicely weighted on 53.5kg in what seems a tough race.

Another lightly-raced campaigner, Hampden, is also on the rise and chases a hat-trick after impressive wins at Rockhampton and Eagle Farm.

Heathcote, who has clinched his third consecutive Queensland trainers' premiership, also holds a strong hand in Saturday's other races following on from his treble at Doomben last Saturday.

Last-start winners Solzhenitsyn and Simmering back up after strong wins.

Heathcote said they also would not be part of his Melbourne team which includes smart sprinter-miler Woorim, rising four-year-old Buffering and stayer Our Lukas.

"They've both done well and we expect them to be competitive again. They're also not going to be ready to go south this time, but that is not to say they won't be part of our plans next year," Heathcote said.

"It would be great to get a few more winners before the end of the season, but I'm over the moon to win three titles in a row.

"Not only that, we've had a great winter carnival as well. We have also had success on the bigger stages at Randwick and Flemington."

With three metropolitan meetings left in the season Heathcote has trained 58.5 winners, well clear of his nearest rivals Liam Birchley and John Thompson with 32 each.