Pretty Dubious wins QTIS Jewel Prelude to give Rob Heathcote’s wife timely boost after skiing fall in Japan

Pretty Dubious’ win in the QTIS Jewel Prelude will help trainer Rob Heathcote’s wife pay some medical bills after a skiing accident while on holiday in Japan.

Pretty Dubious scores an easy win in the QTIS Jewel Prelude (colts and geldings) at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Vicky Heathcote recently crashed on a Japanese ski slope and had to be rescued after injuring her leg, but now has extra cash to pay for medical treatment after the explosive win of two-year-old sprinter Pretty Dubious at Doomben.

Rob Heathcote trains Pretty Dubious who is part-owned by wife Vicky and the couple watched the QTIS Jewel Prelude (colts and geldings) on a computer in their hotel room in Niseko, Japan.

Days earlier, Vicki Heathcote had a nasty skiing accident on the slopes but the dominant win of Pretty Dubious was a timely pick-me-up.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“Vicky has a nice little share of this horse and it (the winning prizemoney) will help pay for some medical bills after we get back to Australia on Monday,” Heathcote said.

“It is quite extraordinary, we have been looking forward to this trip to Japan for about six months and on her first ski run, about 200m down, Vicky twisted her leg quite badly.

“She had to be rescued off the mountain by ski patrol and she spent a day in hospital.

“She is sitting here with me now, in a pretty fancy leg brace, and as soon as we get home to Australia there will be MRI and other scans.”

💨 An easy win to Pretty Dubious in the Sky Racing QTIS Jewel Prelude for the boys!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/TwR3AIBns7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

Pretty Dubious was a bargain basement buy at just $32,000 but is now likely to be the favourite for the $500,000 QTIS Jewel (2YO) on the Gold Coast on March 8.

The gelding started a $3.60 chance on Saturday and wasn’t for catching as he produced a dazzling two-length win under jockey Vlad Duric.

Heathcote endured the highs and lows of racing in 35 minutes on Saturday, with Pretty Dubious winning but then well-fancied rookie filly Carbonara bucking at the start of the QTIS Jewel Prelude (fillies) and missing it hopelessly.

The fillies Jewel Prelude was won impressively by Kelly Schweida’s new star Sunrays, who made it three wins from three starts and did it the tough way after being wide for the trip and burdened by topweight.

Sunrays remains unbeaten and claims the fillies' QTIS Jewel Prelude with @CejayGraham1 on board for @schweidaracing ☀️@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/XCIxls06yH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 22, 2025

Sunrays isn’t a QTIS filly so she won’t be lining up in the Jewel in a fortnight and is instead likely to be set for Queensland winter carnival riches.

“Talk about the highs and lows of racing, we had Carbonara ready to win and then that happens at the start,” Heathcote said.

“I feel like I’ve been to the top of the racing mountain and back to the bottom in 35 minutes.

“I think Pretty Dubious is pretty smart, he was a cheap buy and we have got some other really nice yearlings we have purchased recently on our website.”

Schweida said he felt “pretty sick” watching Sunrays race wide and he thought the filly’s chances could be kaput.

“I thought we were in a spot of bother here with the big weight,” Schweida said.

“She will have a little bit of time off and hopefully get her ready for the (winter) carnival.”

Originally published as Pretty Dubious wins QTIS Jewel Prelude to give Rob Heathcote’s wife timely boost after skiing fall in Japan