HEATHCOTE NOT PHASES BY TIARA DRAW

Trainer Robert Heathcote confident in Starantes

In recent visits to the track Starantes has been pigeonholed as a ‘get back’ horse and trainer Heathcote has warned not to label his runner to early. 

During a recent interview Heathcote was confident that Starantes could easily take up the running or take a sit should they draw an inside barrier in what is the final Group One contest of the Australian Racing Calendar.

In nearly all her starts this campaign Startantes has drawn wide and been forced to go back in the field. Most recently she produced a blazing run late in the Stradbroke Handicap with 50kgs on her back and Heathcote believes she is now producing at the right time.

“She has done all I needed her to do, she is good to go,” Heathcote declared.

“If she can replicate her Stradbroke run, she is right in it.

“Everyone says she is a get back filly, but do you know why that is? Because she always draws wide.

“When she was first up last prep at Caloundra, it was a 1000m in Open company, she drew inside and she could have been on the speed.

“She jumps well but if you go on with it when you draw wide, you are caught three deep more often than not, you just can’t win from there.”

Gun Sydney jockey Jason Collett will take the reins for the first time since he was beaten in a photo on Startantes by fellow Queenslander Hinged in the Group One Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

“It was a tough call taking Taylor Marshall off, it was a split ownership vote,” he said.

“I think she can race handier in the Tiara, if she was to draw inside barrier five, she could travel closer than midfield and I don’t think it would dim her finish.

“She has been giving away so much start lately.

“She has earned the right to have a crack at this, she’s back to weight for age and if she is good enough, she will be there. I think she is good enough.”

Starantes sits as a $9 chance to win the Tatts Tiara on Saturday.

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