Consistent mare East Asia (NZ) (Swiss Ace) landed the most important win of her career when getting up late to score in the Listed Just Now Handicap (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainer Robert Heathcote.
The five-year-old daughter of Swiss Ace was on the quick back-up having finished a close-up eighth in the Listed Tatts Classic (1200m) a week prior and came from well back to score in the final bound under Ron Stewart.
“The black-type is the most important thing I said to the owner,” Heathcote said of the mare which has now won five of her 15 starts and been placed on a further five occasions.
“He called me just before, and said ‘who is backing this bloody horse?’ I said who cares, the race is worth more than the prizemoney, a stakes race for her.
“She was unlucky first up and I hadn’t planned this race, it was only the fact that it was a soft run last week.”
Heathcote had played the waiting game, having trialled the mare back in October but waited until last week until her fresh-up assignment.
“When you get inclement weather like we have this last six weeks it tests the patience of everybody, it creates uncertainty,” he said.
“The clubs, the track curators, the racing administrators, the punters, everybody. We have to have a lot of patience and today it was rewarded.”
Regular rider Luke Ditman could not ride the mare on Saturday as she carried just 54kgs under the handicap conditions.
“Luke obviously couldn’t make the weight today but Ronnie deputised really well,” Heathcote said.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, East Asia is by Swiss Ace out of the Encosta de Lago mare China Choice and she is a half-sister to Group Three winner Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi).
East Asia becomes the 14th stakes winner for her Westbury Stud sire.
