Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich to return to Germany for cancer treatment

GOLD Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich will travel to Germany to have further cancer treatment but not before seeing her filly Cabin Fever return to racing at Doomben.

Gillian Heinrich was all smiles when she returned to the track after her treatment in 2015. She pictured with her now co-trainer Ben Rodgers (left) and Maggie Harrison. Picture: Richard Gosling

GOLD Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich will travel to Germany to have further cancer treatment but not before seeing her filly Cabin Fever return to racing at Doomben.

The filly will take on a strong field in the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1050m) on Saturday.

Heinrich has long been regarded as one of Queensland’s best trainers, having prepared horses including 2010 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Military Rose and stakes winners Ghetto Blaster, All Bar One, Dance The Waves, Rasmussen and Swiss Rose.

She was diagnosed with bowel cancer almost three years ago and has had treatment in Germany to fight it.

Heinrich had been feeling well when she went for a ­routine check-up recently which uncovered a tumour her lungs.

“I had been feeling terrific and went for a routine scan 10 weeks ago,” she said.

“It was a bit of a shock because I was feeling so well and had no symptoms.

“I had the tumour removed and luckily they got it early. But I have been back to Germany for more treatment and will go back for a third lot next week.”

The treatment involves new theories on how to build up the cancer fighting qualities in a body.

Heinrich remains positive about the future and has been able to keep on training in partnership with Ben Rogers.

“I have stayed fit with walking and I have a lot of good support,” Heinrich said.

She paid tribute to Rogers who was her stable foreman before going into a partnership with Heinrich.

“Ben has been fantastic,” she said. “He loves the horses and does a lot of hard work.

“It is good because we have built our team back up to 30.

“About 15 of them are babies and who knows we might have another Magic Millions winner among them.”

Heinrich believes Cabin Fever, who has one win from her five starts, is potentially the best horse they have in the stable.

“She came from an outside barrier to win at Doomben first-up last time,” she said.

“Then she raced well with no luck in stakes races during the winter.

“I trained her mother Feline Flyer who won five races.

“You are getting old when you remember training horses’ dams and even their grand-dams.”