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The Big Goodbye Toughs It Out In Ramornie

Mark Smith - Wednesday July 12

Rising 6yo gelding The Big Goodbye staved off the fast-finishing topweight Far Too Easy and defending champion Ranges in Wednesday’s $200,000 Listed Ramornie Hcp (1200m) at Grafton.

Ridden by Martin Harley for Robert Heathcote, The Big Goodbye (Host) rode the early speed to defeat Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) by a half-neck with Ranges (Shooting To Win) a long-head back in third.

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After beginning his career for Richard and Chantelle Jolly before joining the Heathcote stable in 2021, the son of Host (Chi) has been racing in career-best form. He came to the Ramornie following a second to Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom) in the Listed WJ Healey Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 24.

It was an emotional moment for stable representative Leah Kilner, a one-time regular partner of the Ramornie winner.

“He is the bravest horse I have ever ridden; he is just the best,” Kilner enthused.

“When he hit the front, I thought they would have to be good to get past him.

“He has had a long prep, but Rob is a fantastic trainer. He knows what he is doing, and (The Big Goodbye) has a week at Washpool to get some sun on his back.
“We would love a stable full of him and big credit to the team at home who do an amazing job.

“I’m a Grafton girl and always wanted to win a Ramornie, and I thought I would be the one on this horse. That didn’t happen, but I am here with him now, and that’s the main thing.”    

With his maiden stake’s success, The Big Goodbye advances his record to ten wins, eleven seconds and four thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $598,825.

The Big Goodbye a $52,500 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling

The son of Host (Chi) was a $52,500 purchase for Neerim Lodge from the Willow Grove Stud draft at the 2019 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

A half-brother to stakes-placed Special King (Magnus), The Big Goodbye is the best of six winners from nine to race for the winning Danasinga mare Penny Opera.

The Big Goodbye is the penultimate foal of Penny Opera, who died in 2020, a couple of months after the death of Host (Chi), who left eight stakes winners headed by the charismatic dual Group 1 winner Eduardo.

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Race Result - Grafton D.S.C. Ramornie Hcp LR 1200m

Grafton Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.96
1
The Big Goodbye
- 5g Host (CHI) x Penny Opera (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Martin Harley 57
2
0.2
Far Too Easy
- 4g All Too Hard (AUS) x Mnemonic (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: D A McColm Rdr: James Orman 58
All Too Hard
3
0.4
Ranges
- 6g Shooting To Win (AUS) x I Believe (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Ryan Maloney 57.5
4
1.1
Deepour
- 5g Exosphere (AUS) x Misshiraz (AUS) (Secret Savings (USA))
Tnr: Adam Campton Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 54
5
2.1
Better Get Set
- 5m Better Than Ready (AUS) x Ridolfi (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S O'Dea & M Hoysted Rdr: Jaden Lloyd 54
6
2.2
Ef Troop
- 7g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Limealicious (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ben Thompson 56
7
2.4
Magic In Me
- 5g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Cuban (AUS) (Iglesia (AUS))
Tnr: G R Schwenke Rdr: Braith Nock 54
8
2.7
Hot Spring Gold
- 5g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Graphic (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: S T Collett 54
9
3.3
Tara Jasmine
- 5m Cowboy Blue (AUS) x Carmela Miss (AUS) (Dr Green (NZ))
Tnr: J D Shelton Rdr: Ms M Weir 54
10
3.6
Lasting Kiss
- 5m Real Impact (JPN) x Pouting (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S B Lee Rdr: Leslie Tilley 55
11
4.0
Devil's Throat
- 4g Snitzel (AUS) x Miss Iguacu (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Reece Jones 54
12
4.1
Norwegian Bliss
- 5m El Roca (AUS) x Ballyalla (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Nathan Doyle Rdr: Ashley Morgan 55.5
13
4.4
Never No More
- 7g No Nay Never (USA) x Law Of The Jungle (IRE) (Catcher In The Rye (IRE))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: B Looker 54
14
4.6
Bandipur
- 8g Commands (AUS) x Pattamada (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Purdy Rdr: A Gibbons 54
15
4.7
Iring
- 4g Choisir (AUS) x Jest Envy Her (AUS) (Patronize (AUS))
Tnr: Allan Chau Rdr: K H Zechner 54
16
5.2
Proverbial
- 5m The Factor (USA) x Zastabelle (AUS) (Benicio (AUS))
Tnr: Lou Mary Rdr: Jake Bayliss 54
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