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By Ray Hickson

It wasn’t a Group 1 race trainer Robert Heathcote expected to be a major player in but, backed up by the market, he’s warmed to under-rated filly Startantes’ chances in Saturday’s $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Trainer Robert Heathcote.

For the second week in a row connections paid a late entry fee for her to tackle a Group 1 and on the back of her cheeky sixth behind In The Congo in the Golden Rose she’s in the unlikely position of being the favourite.

Heathcote said his original plan was to wait until the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) next weekend but when she ran 33.14 for her last 600m (Punter's Intelligence) in the Golden Rose, second best behind Artorius, that said she should be more than competitive in the Flight.

“I think it’s fair to say, and one of the owners is a form analyst, the figures out of the Golden Rose were so strong in her favour,’’ Heathcote said.

“They all suggested we have to run in the Flight Stakes and that’s backed up as she has gone up early favourite.

“The track conspired against us to a degree and the wide barrier dictated we had to go back but she was great, she smashed the line.

“I’ve always maintained the best form analysts are the bookies, they are the ones who put money with their opinion.”

Startantes was $4 favourite with TAB on Thursday and while Heathcote has a question mark over a strong mile he says a handy barrier draw should afford her the chance to get as soft a run as possible and run out the trip.

“Primarily she is out of a family of sprinters but there have been a few of them who have got the mile so that gives me hope,’’ he said.

“She’s got a really good turn of foot, and she’s as tough as old boots. It’s the economy of her run that will determine her winning chances.

“She’s flown under my radar a bit. The family has always been near and dear to me, her sibling (Ziemba) is racing 12 minutes after her in Brisbane. Their dam is Funtantes who was so close to me because she brought me so much early success.”

Heathcote said his ‘right hand in Sydney’ Mel Sharpe has reported both Startantes and TAB Everest bound stablemate Rothfire have had an excellent week and will head to the races in tip top shape.

Rothfire has taken significant improvement from his first-up fourth in The Shorts (1100m) two weeks ago and so long as the track is not too soft the trainer is expecting an Everest statement to be made in the Group 2 $500,000 ACY Securities Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Startantes runs sixth in the Golden Rose

“Without being a form genius, natural improvement from the Shorts would see this horse improve a couple of lengths,’’ Heathcote said.

“There’s nothing like a race to bring on a horse.

“If that rain hadn’t come I was confident we could match it with Eduardo and Nature Strip. But it made his task a lot harder and I’m a little bit pleased that Tim Clark didn’t bottom him out.”

Rothfire, $3.30 with TAB on Thursday and $9 in all-in Everest betting, has drawn one from the outside in the Premiere but with Splintex an early scratching Heathcote said Clark will have a few plans to choose from in the first 200m.

“The barrier draw is interesting but with his tactical speed I think it gives Tim an option of taking a trail or pushing forward to sit outside probably Jonker,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's TAB Epsom meeting at Randwick