By Jordan Gerrans
A new lease on life at the Gold Coast has trainer Gillian Heinrich thinking former expensive Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase Mount Fuji can make the grade in Queensland.
The son of Snitzel had four starts in NSW for the Snowden team without breaking through after being acquired as a $2.8 million yearling.
After plenty of expectations and spotlight was placed on Mount Fuji in his first few trips to the races, he is now settling into a quieter life at Aquis Park on the Gold Coast.
Experienced trainer Heinrich picked up the four-year-old chestnut for $75,000 through Inglis' 2021 August (Early) Online Sale recently.
Heinrich, a winner of the Magic Millions Classic in 2010 with star filly Military Rose, is hopeful of getting Mount Fuji to the races in the Sunshine State in around a month.
“We purchased Mount Fuji four weeks ago and he has settled into the Gold Coast life absolutely beautifully,” she said.
“He seems to love it here with the sun on his back.
“He is very, very relaxed and we have not had any problems with him.
“We have just started to gallop him and he will go to the trials in about a fortnight.”
Mount Fuji has run in the money twice from four race efforts and has not been seen at the races since he finished third at Randwick's Kensington track in late July of this year.
Speaking before his debut at the start of 2020, co-trainer Peter Snowden had high hopes for Mount Fuji before his time with their stable came to an end around 18 months later.