Talented sprinter Heatherly could make an appearance in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley when she returns to competition during the Spring Carnival, according to co-trainer Simon Zahra.
Heatherly will be set for the Group 1 Moir Stakes when she resumes in the 2016 Spring Carnival. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Heatherly has been a strong and consistent performer for Zahra and co-trainer Mathew Ellerton since debuting to racing in February last year; posting four wins and as many minors through only nine competitive appearances.
Having claimed two wins and a third placing through her three starts at Moonee Valley to date, Zahra told Racing Victoria the Lonhro filly will be ready to return to racing in the late stages of August, with a view towards contest the 2016 Moir Stakes rock-hard fit.
“Our aim was to give her a really good break which she’s had after a long preparation and now we’ll get her back into work before it gets too cold,” Zahra said.
“She’ll probably be ready to resume racing around the end of August.
“We’ll get her fit and ready to go and then plot a path but 1000m to 1100m that’s probably her distance unless she really relaxes this time around.
“Her form at Caulfield is good and she’s won at the Valley so we’ll probably aim at those races.
“She has won up the straight but she just can pull a bit in her races. There’s plenty of options for her.”
Charging home to win the Fujitsu Plate (1000m) at the Valley on debut, Heatherly progressed to a credible fifth in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) before ending her maiden campaign second in the Listed Festival Of Racing 1000 (1000m).
Resuming in summer for second in the Total Logistic Solutions BM78 (1000m) on December 5th, Heatherly placed third in the Jeep 55 Second Challenge Heat (955m) on December 18th before returning to winning form in the Slickpix BM78 (1000m) on January 2nd.
Repeating the dose in the Andrew Guy Plate (1100m) on January 30th, the filly out of Dancing Heather broke through for a maiden black type win in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) on February 13th before running on for third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) last time out on February 27th.
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