04 August 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Multiple Tasmanian feature race winner Star Chamber sadly passed away on Monday.
The pacer was treated by a veterinary surgeon after scoring a win in a trial in Hobart, suffering a suspected heart attack.
“I have never encountered such heartache. There is no word to describe this feeling. The hole he has left is huge,” said an upset trainer and part-owner Bianca Heenan.
“We purchased him back in 2013. I remember him arriving at the beach where Nathan (Ford) had a training complex. When he got off the truck, we both looked at each other and said, what have we brought, a show pony as he didn’t have a hair out of place.
“I also remember Nathan saying after he won his first race for us that he could win a Tassie cup with this horse, not too many of us took him serious,” said Heenan.
Star Chamber won several of the state’s best races, including the pinnacle, the Tasmania Cup in 2014 and made the final of the race on six occasions the most number of finals made by any horse in the history of the race.
Other feature race wins included; 2021 Hobart Cup, 2018 Brighton Cup, 2018 Governors Cup, 2018 Metropolitan Cup, 2015 City Of Launceston Cup, 2015 Devonport Cup, 2015 Hobart Cup, 2014 Tasmania Cup and 2014 Danbury Park Cup.
Heenan took over the training of the Our Sir Vancelot gelding in 2016, and he was one of the first pacers in her stable.
“As a trainer, you usually teach and train the horse. Star showed me how to train and taught me to be patient. He took us on a hell of a ride even up to his last trial. He trained himself really,” said Heenan.
Heenan’s favourite win was when the pacer came from last at the 400-metre mark to win at Melton in October 2018.
Star Chamber was buried at Heenan’s property with his racing gear as well as his 2021 Hobart Pacing Cup rug.
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