Tiara barrier a concern for Bidii Babe

Trainer Robert Heathcote’s spirits have been lifted by a visit from his former superstar Buffering and hopes the good vibes can rub off onto Bidii Babe in the Tattersall’s Tiara.

Buffering, who won seven Group One Races, has been retired to the Living Legends property in Victoria but is spending his winter in Queensland.

“He was out at his part-owner Bruce Harry’s property and I brought him in for a visit. He seemed to enjoy being in his old stall for a few days,” Heathcote said.

“I sure miss him. But he is now back at Bruce’s property and will go back to Melbourne in the summer.”

Bidii Babe is a $41 chance in Saturday’s Group One race at Doomben and Heathcote admits she will need luck from a wide barrier.

“Barriers are everything at Doomben on a dry track,” he said.

“Bidii Babe was very good winning the (Listed) Bright Shadow two runs back and then in the (Group Two) Dane Ripper last time she was never on the track.

“She has drawn barrier 13 on Saturday and will come in three if the emergencies don’t get a run. It makes it tricky.

“But her race jockey Jim Byrne rode her on Tuesday and said she felt very strong so she is ready to run a race.”

Bidii Babe is raced by southern NSW based Ange Duncan, who with her husband Neil, has had several good horses with Heathcote including Pinch River.

“The Duncans are my biggest individual owners and I always love winning races for them. To get a Group One would be great,” Heathcote said.

Sydney jockey Corey Brown will ride the Heathcote-trained Hopfgarten in the Listed Mumm Stakes (1600m).

“Corey won a Group One for me on Solzhenitsyn,” Heathcote said.

“Hopfgarten tried hard in the Stradbroke last start but he got run off this feet in the final 600 metres. He is much better off at 1600 metres on Saturday.”

Brown won the Stradbroke Handicap on Godolphin colt Impending with Hopfgarten 13th of the 16 runners, five lengths from the winner.