Startantes set to bow out in The Buffering as Rob Heathcote calls for more top level Queensland races
Tattersall’s Tiara winner Startantes will be sold at the Inglis Chairman’s sale next year with trainer Rob Heathcote revealing she is set to be retired after she runs in The Buffering at Doomben on Saturday.
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Group 1-winning mare Startantes is set to be retired, with trainer Rob Heathcote bringing the curtain down on a glittering career.
The 2022 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara winner will bow out in The Buffering (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday, ending a career which saw her rise from obscurity to tackle some of Australia’s best horses.
Named after Heathcote’s globetrotting Group 1 superstar, the Eagle Farm trainer said The Buffering was a fitting send off for Startantes, but confirmed they would press on to the $1m Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 13 if they were to pick up a wildcard entry by winning on Saturday.
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“It has been a stellar career and the Buffering is an apt race for her to retire in,” Heathcote said.
“She has been a wonderful member of this incredible family, which is just the gift that keeps on giving.
“The family came into my life back in 1998 with Cantantes and there has been 70-odd winners and she has clearly been the jewel in the crown with a Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara to her name.
“She has been a fantastic performer throughout her career, she was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Surround Stakes behind Hinged, she has raced successfully against Fangirl and matched it with Anamoe.”
Since winning her Group 1, Startantes has been forced to carry weight when racing in Queensland, with Heathcote saying it eventually took it’s toll on the diminutive mare.
Such has been the struggle, Startantes last win was her crowning moment in the Tattersall’s Tiara 18 months ago.
She is set to go under the hammer early next year in the Inglis Chairman’s sale, where it is expected she will attract a seven-figure sum.
“The time has come for her however, the reality is there are no suitable races for her up here,” Heathcote said.
“Even going through the winter carnival, the races are set weights and penalties.
“She has won a Group 1, we’d never give that back, but she carries a penalty for the rest of her life up here and that makes it tough.
“It’s something I’d like to see Racing Queensland look at, why penalise our local good horses when the southerners can come up here and go bang?”
“She has been carrying weight and it has been a burden for her in the latter part of her career.
“We will sell her at the Inglis Chairman’s sale, it’s a decision the ownership made, normally I’d like to have sold her at the Magic Millions here, but they made that call.”
Originally published as Startantes set to bow out in The Buffering as Rob Heathcote calls for more top level Queensland races
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