Straight shooting Rob Heathcote says Queenslander Startantes won’t be beating hot favourite Princess Grace at Flemington on Saturday, but believes his mare is slowly beginning to hit her straps after a year to forget.
The Group 1 winner has had to overcome a lot in the last 12 months and Saturday’s Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes shapes as a return-to-form option after managing no better than seventh in her six runs since the Tattersall’s Tiara victory in the winter of 2022.
Princess Grace boasts Group 1 form around the likes of Mr Brightside and Fangirl, which Heathcote concedes is a bridge too far to topple.
“I’m not going to talk it up, you look at her form and Stevie Wonder could tell you she is sh-t out of form,” Heathcote said.
“Last year in the spring she had a virus, then I brought her back and she got messed up in the Ascot (Handicap), she ran eighth but she flew home, same thing happened in The Archer, then she had surgery now here I am.
“It is a year after she won her Group 1, but I haven’t really had a crack with her.
“I can’t beat Princess Grace, she could be the best mare in Australia outside of Imperatriz, but I am sure my mare is going to run an improved race.”
Despite only beating two runners home in a red hot Bobbie Lewis down the straight at Flemington three weeks ago, Heathcote said there were green shoots appearing from Startantes’ run.
Dropping back to mares grade on Saturday has always been the goal for Heathcote, who says he is banking on Startantes to recapture some of her old form with racing.
“A few said to me ‘don’t be disappointed by her run up the straight’, she was beaten five lengths but it was an unbelievable tempo and they just kept running,” he said.
“Aside from her appearance and her trackwork, there isn’t a lot to jump up and down about, I’d be an idiot to say she can win this.
“She is getting into her zone but, 1400m mares race, a bit of rain about, which she loves and she gets in so well at the weights.
“This is why we had the run at Flemington a couple of weeks back.”
It comes as Heathcote pulled the pin on Rothfire’s spring campaign following his run in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last week where he felt the firm Moonee Valley track.
After pushing for a slot in The Everest, Rothfire will now head to the King Of The Mountain in Toowoomba on New Year’s Day.
Originally published as Rob Heathcote concedes upstaging Princess Grace will be a tough ask for Startantes in Rose Of Kingston Stakes at Flemington
