Heathcote optimistic about Poutchek's future

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Robert Heathcote concedes imported mare Poutchek hasn’t set the world on fire since making her Australian debut last year but remains optimistic about her future.

Poutchek had her first run on Australia soil for Heathcote when fourth at Doomben last June and will step out for the sixth time for the stable in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1350 metres at Ipswich on Wednesday.

The daughter of Irish sire Ulysses has a big ownership group including First Light Racing who are strong supporters of the Heathcote stable.

First Light Racing dipped its toes into buying imported horses last year and struck early success with imported mare Ha Ha Ha who won at Randwick last July for the champion training team of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Poutchek – a Cejay Graham mount - placed three times as a two-year-old in the United Kingdom before breaking her maiden status over 1400 metres at Eagle Farm last July.

“First Light have been strong stable supporters and have horses all around the country and I’ve got about a dozen horses I train for them,” Heathcote said.

Heathcote has long believed Poutchek’s breeding will see her run a middle distance and her Ipswich effort is part of a gradual process to get there.

“She’s only tiny and it’s fair to say I’m still learning about her,” Heathcote said.

Since her maiden win at Eagle Farm, Poutchek had two further starts last campaign, placing in an 1800 metre race for three-year-olds at Eagle Farm on July 20 and then was spelled after tailing off last in a 1630 metre Benchmark race at Doomben on August 3.

Poutchek had her first run back from a break when she beat two home in an unsuitable 1200 metre Class 2 Plate at Eagle Farm on January 18.

“I had to run her over 1200 metres first-up and we knew she’d be wanting further,” Heathcote said.

“She’s wanting more ground now and this race suits her a bit better but the Ipswich track isn’t ideal for her.

“She’d be much better suited on a big track like Eagle Farm or the Sunshine Coast but this was the only available race for her now.

“She’s got the makings of being a very nice stayer later on but she’s still got to prove herself.”