Robert Heathcote-trained Ser Joh is the premier attraction at Doomben on Saturday

He’s the racehorse named after long-serving former Queensland Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and he made a mockery of his rivals with an eight-length demolition job last start.

He’s the racehorse named after controversial, long-serving former Queensland Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and he made a mockery of his rivals with an eight-length demolition job last start.

Meet Ser Joh, the Rob Heathcote-trained “beast” who will step out at Doomben on Saturday.

He is named after Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the polarising Premier who led Queensland between 1968 and 1987 and passed away in 2005.

“Ser Joh is well-named … he is out of (sire) Capitalist, and there was no better capitalist than Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen,” Heathcote quipped.

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In a low-profile, off-season 10-race card at Doomben there may not be too much for people to get excited about on Saturday.

But seeing whether Ser Joh can back up his romp at the Ipswich midweeks, where he surged to victory by as far as you can kick your hat, is one tantalising attraction.

The upside is the manner of his win at Ipswich is that it surely means he is a horse with big potential.

The downside is that it took the four-year-old gelding eight starts to record his first victory.

Ser Joh is priced as the $4.60 second pick to make it consecutive wins as he lines up in the Class 1 Plate (1200m) with champion jockey Jimmy Orman again booked for the ride.

A simple as feeding the chooks! Ser Joh bolts in at @IpswichTurfClub 💪@JimmyOrmanpic.twitter.com/AqNwKQZdxw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 29, 2025

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“Horses don’t win by eight lengths on the bridle, in any race anywhere, unless they are a bit special,” multiple Group 1-winning conditioner Heathcote said.

“Even Jimmy Orman got off at Ipswich and said ‘wow, there’s a bit of x-factor there’.

“It surprised us a bit that the satchel swingers (bookmakers) have him the price they do to win at Doomben.

“But then again, maybe they looked back through his form and thought there is a few convictions there.

“That is probably fair enough.”

"He's a genuine quality Saturday horse"

- Robert Heathcote on Ser Joh who bolted in at @IpswichTurfClub not long ago! pic.twitter.com/H0NC7O7pE8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 29, 2025

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While Heathcote is certain Ser Joh has always had the ability and potential to achieve big things, he has faced some physical issues throughout his career.

Heathcote has always had to manage him carefully.

“He is a big, strong, powerful beast of a horse,” Heathcote said.

“He is so big and strong and I’ve always liked him, but we probably should have gelded him earlier.

“He has had some physical issues, some fetlock issues, and other things.

“The race on Saturday is going to tell me a lot more about him and what we might be able to look at in the future for him.”

Originally published as Robert Heathcote-trained Ser Joh is the premier attraction at Doomben on Saturday