By Glenn Davis
Trainer Rob Heathcote is hoping for some belated Christmas cheer with No Annamossity in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben on Saturday.
The Doomben meeting features five Black-Type races and four final chances for wildcard entries into next month’s gala Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast.
No Annamossity is a three-quarter brother to seven-time Group 1 winner Buffering and unlike his famous relative is chasing his first victory at Stakes level.
No Annamossity was sold for $75,000 as a yearling and has proven to be a sound investment despite fracturing a cannon bone early in his career.
“He fractured his cannon bone as a young horse and still races with two screws in his leg,” Heathcote said.
“I’m lucky he even got back to the racetrack.”
Despite the near career ending injury, No Annamossity has won more than $276,000 with six wins and eight placings from 22 starts.
The son of Mossman made his comeback this campaign finishing sixth in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes at Doomben on December 1 then ran a much improved fourth to Victorem in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at the same track two weeks later.
Heathcote was delighted with No Annamossity’s run in the Lough Neagh Stakes.
“He was desperately unlucky not to run second in the Lough Neagh,” Heathcote said.
“He came out looking for a run and got held up and had to switch back inside.
“He’s yet to prove himself at this level but this is his best chance yet.”
Heathcote also nominated Femme Fireball for The Buffering (1350m) and Listed Nudgee Stakes but believed the latter with suit the mare better.
“I’ve also got Stella Victoria in the Nudgee but the speed in the Nudgee will suit Femme Fireball better than in The Buffering,” Heathcote said.
Femme Fireball blotted her copybook of three straights wins with a last start third to Sydney mare Our Crown Mistress in the Listed Just Now Quality at Doomben on December 8.
Stella Victoria has also been racing consistently with four wins from her past six starts including a last start second in the Just Now Quality.
“Stella Victoria is racing very well but she needs to win the Nudgee to get into the Fillies & Mares race on Magic Millions day,” Heathcote said.
Racing Queensland webnews December 26