By Glenn Davis
Promising youngster Only Wanna Sing upset a sensational plunge on Toowoomba debutante Red Stina with the narrowest of wins at Doomben on Saturday.
Only Wanna Sing got the bob in on the line on the heavy track to edge out the fast finishing Red Stina by a nose in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1100m).
Trainer Rob Heathcote narrowly missed the quinella when Pinch Memory faded late to finish third, a further three-quarters of a length away.
The Red Lipp-trained Red Stina was heavily backed midweek with reports some punters snared as much as $69 before eventually starting at $8.
The Red Dazzler filly stormed home out wide and looked set to win before jockey Damian Browne got the best out of Only Wanna Sing in the last few bounds.
Heathcote was full of praise for Browne’s ride which brought back memories of the great partnership the pair shared with former star sprinter, Buffering.
“It was desperately close and it was a great ride from Damian,” Heathcote said.
“I think it was Damian’s ride which won the race as he got the best out of him on the line.”
Only Wanna Sing was a $30,000 buy as a yearling and was having his first start since finishing fifth on a heavy track at Doomben last November.
He previously ran second to Tony Gollan’s Golden Slipper hopeful Ef Troop in his Doomben debut.
The son of Your Song went into the race with a barrier trial at Doomben earlier this month which gave Heathcote the confidence of a strong first-up performance.
“I don’t think it was the wet track that beat him last start – it was only his first preparation,” Heathcote said.
Heathcote also was pleased with the run of Pinch Memory who looked the winner half way down the straight before fading late.
“I liked his (Pinch Memory’s) run,” Heathcote said.
“I think both of them are winter carnivals horses so we’ll look at the winter carnival program now.”
Browne believes Only Wanna Sing has a bright future and expected further improvement from the youngster.
“He’s a lovely horse and Rob has always had a good opinion of him,” Browne said.
“He’s still a little green but he got to the line strongly.”
Racing Queensland webnews February 17