Woorim will target the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes during the Spring
Woorim’s winning run in Saturday’s Listed Glasshouse proved to his owners just what could have been in last month’s $1 million Stradbroke Handicap.
The talented Show A Heart gelding sprinted from last in his customary back marker style to seize a second Glasshouse Stakes title.
However, owners Ross and Judy Cutts feel that Woorim was deserved of a Stradbroke victory.
Woorim finished seventh in this year’s race after being held up for a run in the final straight.
Regular jockey Damian Browne was back on Woorim for the Glasshouse win, in which the horse set the weight-carrying record of 58.5 kilograms and became the first horse to win the race in successive years.
Trainer Robert Heathcote’s stable representative, Melissa Leitch, said Woorim would get another chance at winning a Group 1 race in Melbourne this spring.
“We will look at having one run at Doomben and then target the Sir Rupert Clarke, which he went so close in last year,” Ms Leitch said.
Ms Leitch was thrilled that Woorim could produce the win last Saturday.
“Everything was against him today – the (wet) track, the weight,” she said.
“When he went back to last I thought he had no chance.”
Even his jockey doubted Woorim’s chances coming into the home straight.
“He really struggled for a fair way but like all class horses, he really picked up,” Browne said.
“Mid-race he was just floundering a bit. The big weight had an effect.”
Browne was concerned he may have asked Woorim to pick up speed too early in the sprint for home.
“Coming to the corner, he suddenly picked up,” Browne said.
”In a furlong he put paid to them.
“I actually thought I might have made my run too early.’
“When he got out at the 300m, his turn of foot put paid to them but then he just staggered the last little bit, which he was entitled to do.”
Second place-getter Meet George’s trainer, Brian Smith, felt that his horse did not have luck on his side during the race.
“He’s had no luck right from the Gold Coast to here,” Smith said.
“He might be worth running in the Ramornie now.”
