Trainer Robert Heathcote was the least worried when his gelding Deep Image drew wide in the Listed Lough Neagh at Eagle Farm and it proved to be for a good reason.
Deep Image drew barrier two at his previous start when he led but was run down to finish third at Doomben.
The gelding drew barrier 13 in Saturday’s race and it proved a blessing as far as Heathcote was concerned.
Deep Image ($5) crossed to the lead and went on to beat Looks Like Elvis ($19) by three-quarters of a length with 1-1/2 lengths to Chapter And Verse ($7) in third.
“I have been saying for some time that Deep Image is all class and would win good races. But he had to do too much work from the inside barrier at his last start,” Heathcote said.
“I know it sounds strange but I knew if Robbie (jockey Fradd) could work to the lead at his own pace today he could get some easy sectionals.”
“That is the way it turned out and he was very strong on the line.”
Deep Image has now won three times and been minor placed twice in six starts for Heathcote.
“Right from the time he won a trial for us I have had a wrap on him. I think he can probably go on to win an even better race,” Heathcote said.
Fradd backed up Heathcote’s opinion saying Deep Image was an impressive horse.
“I knew I could steal a few cheap sectionals in the middle stages and that helped him kick on,” Fradd said.
Deep Image might now run in the The Buffering at Eagle Farm in a fortnight but is more likely to go straight into the Magic Millions Cup on January 11.
Brad Stewart said Looks Like Elvis had again been strong on the line while Chapter And Verse also did his Magic Millions hopes no harm with a strong finish.
