The hugely promising Melbourne based filly Heidilicious will not be seen contesting the Cup’s circuit in Victoria during the spring carnival.
The John Sadler trained rising four-year old was one of the major talking points coming out of the Brisbane Winter Carnival even though she never managed to win a race.
She’s only had the seven starts so far in her career and despite only having the two wins against low grade company there’s no doubting her future ability.
She first came to the attention of punters when she ran sixth in the Doomben Roses behind Scarlett Lady.
She missed the start on that occasion by more than five lengths but managed to tack onto the back of the field and mow down plenty of ground over the home straight.
Next time out it was almost déjà, she once again rearing as the gates opened and found herself trailing the pack onto the turn.
She kicked into gear again and flew home once more to this time claim fifth spot.
The thought process was that if she could get a decent jump she’d be right in the mix and she showed that when stepping up against the boys in the Queensland Derby.
Only the open grade proven Shootoff and classy New Zealand filly Shez Sinsational finished ahead of her as she easily covered the 2400m trip.
This led to questions about a possible tilt at the Caulfield Cup or even Melbourne Cup later in the year.
Troy Corstens though, the assistant trainer for the Malua Racing Team, has said Heidilicious’s main goal for the spring will be the Group 2 Sandown Classic over 2400m at weight for age level.
There is also scope for a shot at the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes over 2000m for fillies and mares a week before hand on Emirates Stakes Day.
That’s not to say they don’t see her as a 3200m horse of the future, they just don’t want to push her too hard too early in her career given she is still only lightly raced.
They say that this year’s preparations will put her in good stead for a cups campaign in the 2012 / 2013 season.
With her barrier manners taken out of the equation she is actually quite a consistent horse, in fact those two runs are the only time she’s missed a place.
To date her earnings are just short of $100,000 with two wins, a second, two thirds and the gutsy fifth and sixth mentioned earlier.
