Racing
Doomben Wednesday: Progressive Caspernova stepping through grades
Trainer Rob Heathcote believes progressive sprinter Caspernova has a bright future but is content to go through the grades before hopefully testing the gelding at Stakes level.
Caspernova will clash with stablemate Hoot 'N' Holler when he resumes from a short break in the Class Five Handicap over 1110 metres at Doomben on Wednesday
The four-year-old son of Spirt Of Boom has won four of his nine starts but will be stepping out for the first time since finishing fourth in a 1200-metre Class Four at the Gold Coast in mid-March.
Heathcote, who recently returned from a week in the Philippines where he attended a wedding of a close mate, believes Caspernova is on the right path to greater things.
"He's blessed with talent and he's clearly got a good record already," Heathcote said.
"The plan with him is just to go through the grades to open company at this stage.
"He's got to keep improving but he's got that Stakes level quality about him."
Heathcote has given Caspernova a barrier trial to prepare him for his first-up assignment.
"He's had a barrier trial at Doomben which he won nicely so I'm expecting him to be very competitive," he said.
"He's owned by Adrenaline Thoroughbreds who have been fantastic stable supporters.
"I've had a lot of success with them over a long time and they own Prince Of Boom," Heathcote said.
Caspernova won a Benchmark race at Eagle Farm in mid-February to complete a hat-trick of wins and has only missed a place twice in his short career including his latest effort at the Gold Coast when beaten less than three lengths.
Heathcote also is hopeful of a strong performance from Hoot 'N' Holler who hasn't raced since tailing a field of 11 in an 1110-metre Benchmark race at Doomben in late February.
"Hoot 'N' Holler is going well and also trialled well when she ran third behind Caspernova at Doomben," he said.
"She's already a Saturday winner but I'd have to favour Caspernova of the two."
Heathcote, who flies out to Canada for two weeks next month on his annual holiday break, had no luck with his champion sprinter Rothfire who finished a brave seventh in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
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