Gillian Heinrich beats cancer again and eyes second Magic Millions win with foal of Military Rose

TWO-TIME cancer survivor Gillian Heinrich has set about trying to win a second $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with the foal of her first champion Military Rose.

Gerry Harvey and Gillian Heinrich at the second Magic Millions Polo event on the Gold Coast.

TWO-TIME cancer survivor Gillian Heinrich has set about trying to win a second $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with the foal of her first champion Military Rose.

Just months after overcoming a second bout of cancer, Heinrich has started what she hopes to be her journey back to the peak of her racing powers.

The respected Gold Coast trainer went to Wednesday’s Magic Millions yearling sales with the sole intention of getting Lot 84 — a filly by All Too Hard out of Military Rose — in order to chase a fairytale second 2YO Classic win with the bloodline.

“We were really happy with that. She is just absolutely beautiful,” Heinrich said of the filly bought for $500,000.

“Everybody wanted her and when we looked at her I said, ‘I don’t care — that’s the only one we have to get. We have just got to get her’.”

Lot 84 at the 2018 Magic Millions yearling sales, a filly by All Too Hard and out of Military Rose. Purchased by Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich. Photo: Supplied.

PAST GLORIES

Heinrich teamed up with jockey Stathi Katsidis — who tragically died in 2010 — to win the 2010 Classic with favourite Military Rose in what the Coast trainer still regards as the best victory of her career.

“It’s at the top. I have always said that,” Heinrich said.

“I think it’s because I’m from the Gold Coast and it’s our race. It makes you really proud to win it. It’s the best thing ever.”

Heinrich said the one thing that could top the win would be to do it again with her latest acquisition.

“Can you imagine? It would be the best thing that has ever happened if you could pull that off,” Heinrich said.

She is one of just three Gold Coast trainers to win the race along with inaugural winner Sally Keays (nee Rogers) who won with Snippets in 1987 and Toby Edmonds who won the 2017 event with Houtzen.

It’s been a tough three years for Heinrich who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015.

Heinrich successfully fought it off but received the shock news last year that a small cancer had gone into her lungs.

“It wasn’t good to get the second one, obviously. I had the all clear on the bowel and it was all clear full body scan but my cancer cell count was always up so they knew there was something trying to go somewhere else,” Heinrich said.

“We stopped all treatment and let it go and it went to the lung.”

The 59-year-old had the ­tumour cut out and travelled to Germany in late November when she had dendritic therapy, a process that involved taking Heinrich’s blood and adding cells that can fight cancer before putting it back into her body.

“Fingers crossed that’s worked,” Heinrich said of her latest battle.

“I feel good and that’s the main thing.”

Cancer survivor and horse trainer Gillian Heinrich (centre) with Ben Rodgers (L) on a and Maggie Harrison. Picture: Richard Gosling.

C HANGE OF PACE

Heinrich’s cancer battle forced her to take a step back from her work at the stables as training partner Ben Rodgers worked to keep their horses running.

She returned late last year and hopes to remain healthy and work full-time in 2018.

“I’m hoping to God that this year we get a positive result and I’ll be back full-time,” Heinrich said.

“It’s hard work and it’s been hard on Ben.

“I can’t be there and he is only young. I can’t be there to get him through stuff that he probably needs me for because I’ve been getting treated.

“I just want to train plenty of winners and put the stable back where we used to be this year. Also to obviously win the 2YO Classic with that particular filly we bought.”

Military Rose on her way to winning the 2010 Magic Millions 2YO Classic with jockey Jockey Stathi Katsidis.

FILLY HOPES

Heinrich said she believed the yearling daughter of Military Rose might even be better than the Magic Millions winner upon early inspection.

“She is much like mum, probably even a better type than mum, as in she has a little bit more size about her and seems to have good legs,” Heinrich said.

Rodgers said Heinrich’s horses had been a good distraction for the strong and ­determined woman.

“She is very resilient and is really positive, too,” Rodgers said.

“She has always stayed positive about it all and I think the horses have been a good distraction for her.”