Startantes may not be the most impressive horse in the yard, but she produced a strong finish to deliver Jason Collett and Rob Heathcote the final G1 of the season.
Heathcote may have been known for his headline sprinters, Buffering and Rothfire but he can now add Startantes to the list.
Rewind back a few weeks and a G1 win may have seemed impossible as Startantes was scratched by stewards from the Mick Dittman Plate after she was one of Heathcote’s runners alleged to have been treated with a banned product called Hemoplex.
The win also had an impressive breeding story as it began with Cantantes in the 1990s.
“I am so happy for the ownership group, we had the mum, Funtantes, I had her mum Cantantes, the family has been part of my life for 23 or 24 years and this ownership group has been with me the whole way,” an emotional Heathcote said.
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“It meant a lot to me because I have had this family all the way through, we bred her.”
Collet produced a gem to come from last on the turn and drive through an opening big enough for a truck.
“Her turn of foot is electric,” Collett said.
“I got up next to the Ciaron Maher runner (Snapdancer), I didn’t have a hell of a lot of carrots left and I was a touch worried but I was the fresh legs on the scene.”
Hands up if you backed Startantes 🙌🏻 💰 pic.twitter.com/jpGKnyfsMf
— The Sporting Base – Horse Racing (@TSBRACING) June 25, 2022
A spring carnival assault was on the cards but Heathcote will now reassess those plans.
“She will go to the paddock for sure,” he said.
“I was going to take her to Melbourne for the spring but I am going to have to evaluate that now because she hasn’t had a break for two preparations but gee, there are some nice fillies and mares races down there.”
