Heathcote sends Gold Edition warning

By Glenn Davis

It will be no surprise for trainer Robert Heathcote if well-bred three-year-old Fabulantes wins the Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Heathcote believes Fabulantes is a good chance of turning the tables on Kelly Schweida’s in-form sprinter Grafterburners in the 1200 metre Listed feature.

Fabulantes is coming off a close up fifth behind Grafterburners in the Pierata Plate at Doomben on December 6.

“I thought his run behind Grafterburners was terrific and he was only beaten by a small margin on a firm track, which didn’t suit him,” Heathcote said.

“I think he’s a chance on that run, but Grafterburners is a tough nut to crack and he’s a quality horse.

“Fabulantes is a better chance than his $20 price at the moment.

“But, Grafterburners is still the proven star now that Cool Archie is out of the race.”

Heathcote is chasing his second win in the Gold Edition after his Group 2-winning mare Abounding was successful two years ago.

Fabulantes is a product of one of Queensland’s famous breeding families being a daughter of Heathcote’s former star Funtantes.

A daughter of Queensland-based sire Easy Rocking, Funtantes has proven to be a huge success at stud as well as on the racetrack after producing several top performers including Group 1-winner Startantes.

Funtantes won 10 times during her career earning more than $704,000 in prizemoney with her best wins in the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben in 2009 and Listed Nudgee Handicap and Listed Juanmo Stakes. 

Her second foal Startantes placed in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick in 2021 and Group 1 Surround Stakes in 2022 before going to win at the highest level in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm. 

Meanwhile, Schweida believes Grafterburners deserves to be his best hope in the Gold Edition.

Schweida will saddle Grafterburners and Metal Man in the Gold Edition.

“On form, Grafterburners has to be my best hope,” Schweida said.

Schweida was impressed with Grafterburners latest win in the Pierata Plate but admitted he had some concerns during the race.

“He was going to put them away but when Cejay (Graham) had to stop riding I was a bit worried,” Schweida said.

“He’s a colt and hadn’t run for a month and had a week in the paddock after his previous win.

“He’s not a Magic Millions horse so he can’t run in the Guineas.

“He’ll instead go for the slot race in the Sunlight and then we’ll decide if he goes to Melbourne for the Inglis race worth $1 million or he stays here for the $500,000 QTIS Jewel.”