Woorim will back up in next Saturday’s $1 million Emirates Stakes after scoring an outstanding win in today’s Group Three Chatham Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
The Brisbane based “get back, storm home” runner produced a stunning finishing burst to race clear late in the race and beat Thankgodyou’rehere by two lengths.
Recent Group One winner and fellow Magic Millions graduate Toorak Toff was third home, another two and a quarter lengths back.
A graduate of the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Woorim is prepared at Eagle Farm by Robert Heathcote.
The trainer decided to stay and saddle his runners in Brisbane and left assistant trainer Melissa Leitch in charge.
“We know the horse is capable of that but it’s just a matter of getting everything right with him because he’s got hoof issues.”
“We were confident coming into the race (even though) he’d had a couple of hard runs leading into the race.”
Leitch said she was unconcerned by the outside barrier in today’s race for Woorim – whose earnings have raced past $750,000 – not bad considering he could have been yours for just $75,000.
“We’d rather be there than barrier one because he is not brilliant out and he does get back in his races. We weren’t too concerned.”
Woorim will now target the million dollar Group One Emirates Stakes in seven days time.
“This is the first time he has been on a dry track at Flemington – he really enjoyed it out there today.”
It was a real Queensland win with Michael Rodd aboard Woorim – Rodd one of the best jockeys to hail from the sunshine state in recent years.
“You have to take your hat off to Robert Heathcote, especially Melissa (Leitch).”
“I’ve known her for a long time and she is a really good horseman and she had this horse bang on today.”
“You saw what he can do. He is a horse that gets back and if you can wind him up he can unleash a really good turn of foot.”
“He is a really classy horse and probably a bit underestimated but when he turns up he can do that,” Rodd summed up.
Woorim, raced by Ross and Judy Cutts, is by the former star galloper and now leading Queensland based sire Show a Heart.
He is from the Canadian Silver mare Wabble, a Brisbane winner of five races – a mare who’s better known as a producer of note.
As well as Woorim, Wabble is the dam of My Limit – a six time winner and group placegetter in the Rough Habit Plate.
Winner: Woorim
Breeding: Show a Heart-Wabble (Canadian Silver)
Race: VRC Chatham Stakes G3 (1400m)
Passed for: $65,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Glenlogan Park (As Agent)
Reserve: $75,000
Earnings: $757,150
Owner(s): Showtime Breeding Pty Ltd Synd (Mgr: R Cutts)
Trainer: Robert Heathcote (Eagle Farm)
