Fragile mare Tomboy overcame the first hurdle for a possible trip to Sydney for the Group One Coolmore Classic with a narrow victory at Doomben on Saturday.
Tomboy ($2.30 fav) held on to score by a head over the fast-finishing Mystical Grey ($5.50) in the Remondis & Energywatch Handicap (1350m).
Early leader Fangles ($6) battled on gamely for third, a further half-length away.
Trainer Rob Heathcote, who was in Melbourne with Buffering for his Group One Lightning Stakes clash with Black Caviar at Flemington, was delighted with Tomboy’s win.
“That was a real tough win,” Heathcote said.
“She’s a fragile unit and I haven’t been able to put a saddle on her back since Tuesday.
“Considering the problems we’ve had with her legs she’s done a magnificent job to win seven of her last nine starts and win her open company debut.
“I’m looking at a Listed 1600-metre race for her next start if she comes out of this race strongly and then we’ll make a decision about the Coolmore.”
The Listed Tattersall’s Member’s Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm on March 3 is the race Heathcote hopes will convince him to send the daughter of Murphy’s Blu Boy to Sydney for the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24.
Tomboy has an apple-shaped fetlock on her near foreleg which requires regular maintenance after every gallop.
“I’ve had to be mindful of her leg issues and she’s been high maintenance,” Heathcote said.
Jockey Jim Byrne gave Tomboy’s connections a glowing report after the four-year-old recorded her eighth win from 14 starts.
“She’s extremely professional and when it comes to the crunch she fights really hard,” Byrne said.
Runner-up Mystical Grey produced an eye-catching performance to just fail in his first start since finishing eighth to Work The Room in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm last July.
Trainer Craig Stott hopes Mystical Grey can progress towards the second-tier Brisbane winter carnival races.
“He was last into the straight and had to give the winner three kilos,” Stott said.
“I’ve never won a Group race in my career and it’s my aim to win a Group race with him.”
Stott has only two horses in training at Caloundra but also dabbles in breeding.
The former Victorian trainer relocated to Caloundra in November 2010 and won his first race in Queensland with Mystical Grey in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm last June.