Cabin Fever to boost Heinrich

Gillian Heinrich (right) will watch Cabin Fever at Doomben before undergoing cancer treatment.

Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich will travel to Germany to undergo further cancer treatment but not before seeing her Cabin Fever return to racing at Doomben.

The filly takes on a strong field in Saturday’s Three-Year-Old Handicap (1050m).

Heinrich has long been regarded as one of Queensland best trainers having prepared horses including Magic Millions winner Military Rose and stakes winners Ghetto Blaster, All Bar One, Dance The Waves, Rasmussen and Swiss Rose.

She was diagnosed with bowel cancer nearly three years ago and has undergone treatment in Germany to fight the disease.

Heinrich had been feeling well when she went for a routine check-up recently which uncovered a tumour in her lung.

“I had been feeling terrific and went for a routine scan 10 weeks ago. It was a bit of a shock because I was feeling so well and had no symptoms,” Heinrich said.

“I had the tumour removed and luckily they got it early. But I have been back to Germany for more treatment and will go back for a third lot next week.”

The treatment involves new theories on how to build up the cancer fighting qualities in a body.

Heinrich remains positive about the future and has been able to keep on training in partnership with Ben Rogers.

“I have stayed fit with walking and I have a lot of good support,” Heinrich said.

She paid tribute to Rogers who was her stable foreman before going into a partnership with Heinrich.

“Ben has been fantastic. He loves the horses and does a lot of hard work. It is good because we have built our team back up to 30,” Heinrich said.

“About 15 of them are babies and who knows we might have another Magic Millions winner among them.”

Heinrich believes Cabin Fever is the potentially the best horse in the stable.

“She came from an outside barrier to win at Doomben firs-up last time. Then she raced well with no luck in stakes races during the winter,” Heinrich said.

“I trained her mother Feline Flyer who won five races. You are getting old when you remember training horses’ dams and even their grand dams.”