Rob Heathcote aiming to take chunk out of Lough Neagh Stakes with Prince Of Boom and Abounding

Rob Heathcote had never seen anything like it but he has Prince Of Boom ready to run a big race in the Lough Neagh Stakes after biting the finger off his jockey earlier in the week.

Prince Of Boom bit his jockey’s finger off in the lead-up to Saturday’s Lough Neagh Stakes (1300m), with Rob Heathcote admitting it is one of the more unusual preparations he has encountered.

While Heathcote is adamant his stakes-winning sprinter is back on track following an indifferent winter carnival, he believes his stablemate Abounding is a Group 1 winner in waiting as she looks to back up her scorching first-up win last month.

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Jimmy Orman is expected to be back for Magic Millions next month after Prince Of Boom bit the tip of his index finger off when he was attempting to remove the tongue tie on Tuesday morning at track work.

It left Heathcote to call on veteran hoop Vlad Duric to take the ride, in what the trainer said will be a bold on-speed performance.

“It’s unbelievable what’s happened, I’ve never seen or heard anything like it,” Heathcote said of Orman’s bitten-off finger.

“His first-up run behind Hidden Wealth was super, he had a long break and his form before that wasn’t good in the winter carnival.

“We gave him plenty of time and we wanted to aim him towards the Magic Millions.

“There doesn’t look to be a clear leader in the race, so he will roll along and I think he will run a big race.”

Prince Of Boom bit jockey Jimmy Orman’s finger off earlier in the week. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

While Prince Of Boom is a $6 chance with bookmakers, Abounding is a $3.10 favourite, where Heathcote said he expects the race to be run to suit.

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The Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner returned in devastating fashion in the Listed Tattersalls Classic last month, franking her form behind wonder mare Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara in the winter.

“I think she is a Group 1 horse, if she’s not that level, she’s not far off it,” Heathcote said.

“She was two lengths off it in the winter and was dominant first up over 1200 meters thanks to a peach from Martin Harley.

“I said to the owners that she has come back better this prep than previous and I think she proved that first up.”

Originally published as Rob Heathcote aiming to take chunk out of Lough Neagh Stakes with Prince Of Boom and Abounding