Stewards will reconvene an inquiry later this week into apprentice Travis Wolfgram’s handling of Tail and All at Doomben.
Tail and All ($81) led for home but compounded in the straight to finish 12th in Saturday’s Twilight Hcp (1600m) won by his Robert Heathcote-trained stablemate Sea Red ($14).
Heathcote vigorously defended the apprentice at the initial inquiry saying because of the style of racing at Doomben in recent months there had been many bad rides.
“But you don’t have them all in here. I am disappointed with the decision to go on with this,” Heathcote said.
Acting chief steward Daniel Aurisch said stewards were worried Wolfgram had moved from a position three-back with cover to attack the lead three-deep from the 800m.
Tail And All was retired after the race.
Stewards adjourned the inquiry to consider sectional times from various recent 1600m races and will resume the hearing at Doomben on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Heathcote will be busy this week confirming the details of star sprinter Buffering’s starts next year.
Buffering will run in the Al Quoz Sprint at Dubai on World Cup night, March 26, then go to Hong Kong for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize on May 1.
Heathcote scrapped plans to go to Royal Ascot as it would not fit in with the time schedule.
Buffering claimed his sixth Group One win in the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth last Saturday week.
After spending a few days at Living Legends in Melbourne, Buffering has arrived back in Brisbane and is expected to run in the Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast on January 9 before he begins his overseas adventure.
