HEZA BEAUTY

18th October 2020

Price Bloodstock’s Heza Beauty has been a frustrating horse in the way he has been starting but he got it right on Sunday to win after jockey Neil Callan did the next best thing than getting the the right information from the horse’s own mouth.

The John Size-trained four-year-old has a history of beginning poorly in his races and has cost himself more than one victory but his talent has never been in doubt.

He stood the leaders a big start again before swamping them in the final 100m for his second victory but this time his start wasn’t a problem.

Having his first ride on Heza Beauty, Callan said he’d got a detailed description of the horse from trainer John Size, but it might have been the starter Tony Speechley who who gave him the key information.

“Tony was telling me about the horse’s manners at the gates and explained that when he goes in, Heza Beauty gets impatient for the start,” Callan explained.

“He told me the handler in the gates will hold the horse, don’t try to straighten him or he’ll charge the gates and that’s when he misses it. It was good information to have so I kept him chilled behind the start and patting him and then left him alone in the stalls. He didn’t have to wait long and he jumped clean.”

A wide draw meant the gelding got back in the field anyway but Callan thought it was a blessing in disguise.

“I’ve been watching his runs when he’s been in amongst horses and he didn’t look comfortable, so sitting back, wide probably suited when there wasn’t a lot of speed on because he could travel and relax and then get plenty of room in straight,” Callan said. “Still, in saying that, I looked up at the 250m and the leader was long way ahead and I thought he’d have to be good to win but he really hit the line strong. It was a very good win and he still hasn’t had a lot of racing so you’d think there’s more to come.”