In-form trainer Rob Heathcote breathed a sigh of relief when Fillydelphia bounced back to her best form at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Bianconi mare arrived with a perfectly-timed finish under Damian Browne to score by over a length in the Blackwater Quarries Hcp (1400m).   “I’m relieved to have her back,” Heathcote admitted.  “At her best, I rate her one of the best mares in Queensland.”

Fillydelphia (5m Bianconi – Edel Vanessa by Encosta De Lago) failed first-up at Eagle Farm earlier this month when she was reported to have pulled up lame.  “I had my own vet go over her and he couldn’t find anything wrong,” Heathcote continued.  “Then I had her legs x-rayed and even got the chiropractor in as a precaution.  They couldn’t find anything amiss, either!”

Bred and part-owned by Queensland based Frank Wolber, Fillydelphia has won 9 races from 28 starts and Saturday’s victory sent her bank past $400,000.

Her first big pay-day was a G3 victory in the Rough Habit Plate (2020m) in May 2011 and she returned for a summer campaign that included another black-type result in the LR Brisbane Hcp (1630m).

Despite her return to form, there are no plans to head south with Fillydelphia.  “She was beaten a nose by Kontiki Park in the Bernborough Hcp last December,” Heathcote recalled.  “I would love to rectify that result this year.”

Bianconi sired his first stakes winner this season when Bianmick caused a $21 upset in the G3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley last month.  Bianconi (Danzig) stands at Swettenham Stud for a $9,000 (inc gst) service fee.

FILLYDELPHIA
Bianconi mare back in form in Brisbane