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Heathcote has throw at MM Guineas stumps with Femme Fireball

21 December 2017

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Rob Heathcote is being realistic when he says talented filly Femme Fireball faces an uphill battle to qualify for the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast next month.

But Heathcote will have a “throw at the stumps” and give the daughter of Pierro every chance to make the field for the $2 million feature when she steps out in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Femme Fireball has won two of her only three starts and looked very impressive winning for Luke Nolen in a leg of the Origin Jockeys’ series at Doomben on December 8.

Femme Fireball is on the fourth line of betting at $6.50 with UBET behind $4.00 favourite Winter Bride.

“She’ a very nice filly and a daughter of Pierro but I’m not super confident about her chances of getting into the Magic Millions Guineas,” Heathcote said.

“She’s nowhere near qualified yet and will need to run very good on Saturday.

“Her aim is the Magic Millions Guineas but she’ll need to go on to the Vo Rogue after this run to get enough prizemoney to qualify.”

Heathcote believes Femme Fireball has the potential to develop into a Stakes filly later on.

“I think she’ll develop further and make a nice Stakes filly later on but this race on Saturday is a throw at the stumps,” he said.

“I’m not super confident about her chances as she’s coming back in distance from 1350 metres to 1200 metres which is not ideal.

“She also tends to get back and fillies like her are always at a disadvantage.”

Heathcote said his opinion of Femme Fireball was franked when she won the Origin race for Luke Nolen.

“Luke got off her and was very impressed,” he said.

Meanwhile Weekend Saga will be Heathcote’s only other runner at the Gold Coast when she lines up in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1800m).

Weekend Saga, a Matt McGillivray mount, has won two of her seven starts including her latest outing at the Sunshine Coast on December 15.

“She’s a nice horse who had to come from last to win at Caloundra last start,” he said.

“She steps up to 1800 metres this time which is a query as she’s by Red Saga.

“But Damian Browne got off her last time and was very impressed the way she hit the line.”

Racing Queensland webnews  December 21