En Pointe set for Tattersall's Classic

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Robert Heathcote will be keeping a close eye on the weather as he bids for back-to-back wins in the Tattersall’s Classic at Doomben on Saturday.

Heathcote won the 1200 metre Listed feature last year with Abounding who went on to claim the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield in October.

This year Heathcote will saddle six-year-old mare En Pointe who will dramatically boost her broodmare value if she can claim her first stakes race.

“I wish I had Abounding in this year’s race,” Heathcote said. 

“En Pointe is no Abounding, but she deserves her chance in a Listed race.”

Heathcote vividly recalls sending En Pointe to Dalby for her first start when she ran third in a Maiden Handicap in 2022.

“I remember her first start well at Dalby as she should have won,” Heathcote said.

En Pointe has since gone to race another 35 times for eight wins and as many placings earning almost $390,000 in prizemoney.

“She’s done a great job considering she was such a cheap buy,” Heathcote said.

En Pointe has been a great investment for her owners after being sold for $37,000 at the Magic Millions March sales in 2021.

“She won in open company at the Sunshine Coast two starts back but this race is a lot harder,” Heathcote said.

“This could well be her last season before going to stud but she’s in good form.

“She ran third last start behind Boomtown Boss at Eagle Farm and it was a hard track that day.

“If we get rain her chances will improve immensely.

“She’s done a good job for her owners and they’ve got a lot of enjoyment from her.”

Heathcote admits it’s 'hit-and-miss' with weather predictions.

“It’s storm season and there’s been storms just about every day but it’s really a bit hit-and-miss whether we get any rain on Saturday,” Heathcote said.

Heathcote has booked last year’s Melbourne Cup champion jockey Robbie Dolan to partner En Pointe.

The Irish hoop has ridden her three times and was successful in a 1200 metre Benchmark race at Doomben in February of last year.

Heathcote was disappointed En Pointe drew poorly in barrier 12 but she will come in two places with the scratchings of the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Navyonthehighway and Michael Freedman’s Heesen.

He rates the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Midnight In Tokyo as the main threat of En Pointe.

Midnight In Tokyo - a Ryan Maloney mount - is coming off a strong second to the Ciaron Maher-trained Epic Proportions in the Listed Keith Noud at Doomben on November 15.