Trainer Robert Heathcote has conceded Bewhatyouwannabe faces a tough task in stepping up to a mile in Saturday’s Listed Recognition Stakes (1600m) at Doomben, but is confident the six-year-old is in the right form for a big performance.
Bewhatyouwannabe will contest Saturday’s Recognition Stakes at Doomben second-up. Photo: Daniel Costello
Bewhatyouwannabe has posted an impressive six wins and ten minors through 33 starts for Heathcote since first appearing on course competitively in 2012 and returned this time for a credible fourth amongst notable company in the Twilight Race Day Handicap (1350m) on November 7th.
While undoubtedly requiring a big effort to overcome a talented field and step-up to a mile in the Recognition Stakes, Heathcote is confident the Fastnet Rock gelding’s first-up performance suggests plenty of improvement on Saturday.
“Bewhatyouwannabe will be second-up over a mile which will be challenging but he was good first-up over 1350m,” Heathcote told Racing Ahead.
“He was caught wide the whole way and ran fourth and showed a lot of courage.
“He’s come on well and I really liked the way he galloped on the course proper this morning.”
Bewhatyouwannabe was a strong and consistent performer for Heathcote through the recent Brisbane Winter Carnival; running fourth in the Listed Tails Stakes (1600m) and winning the Listed Member’s Handicap (1600m) most notably.
Heathcote has also included Volkhere in 2015 Recognition Stakes nominations, but believes the horse will be far-better over a longer trip this time in.
“Volkhere will be better over 2000m but he ran a really cracking race first-up,” Heathcote said.
“He was a little bit flat second-up over 1350m but expect him to improve on Saturday.”
Volkhere will contest the Recognition Stakes third-up, having returned for sixth in the Suez Recycling & Recovery Handicap (1200m) and eighth in the Twilight Race Day Handicap.
The 2015 Recognition Stakes final field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.
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