A low-grade infection has ruled Queenslander Woorim out of the Group One Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday week.
Woorim arrived back at trainer Rob Heathcote’s Eagle Farm stables on Monday following his failure in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Easter Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Show A Heart tailed the field throughout and was beaten more than eight lengths in the race won by Metal Bender.
Heathcote sensed all was not well with Woorim following a similar lacklustre performance when he finished last to Foxwedge in the Group One William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 23.
Despite the infection Heathcote is hopeful Woorim can make a quick recovery for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm during the winter.
“It’s not a serious infection and is only mild but it’s enough to rule him out of the Doncaster,” Heathcote said.
“We now believe he may have had it for the last couple of weeks.
“I had him scoped on Sunday and there was inflammation in his airways so we’ve decided to pull the pin on his program in Sydney.”
Heathcote will reassess Woorim in two weeks before making a decision about the Brisbane winter carnival.
“I’ll have a look at him in a couple of weeks during a break at Washpool Lodge and hopefully he can recover in time to run in the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke,” he said.
The Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) will be run on May 26 with the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.
Woorim gave Heathcote the first Group One of his training career in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February.
In last year’s Stradbroke, Woorim was most unlucky after being held up for a run when seventh to Sincero.
Meanwhile, stablemate Buffering remains on target for the winter after returning home following his William Reid Stakes placing.
“Buffering worked well at Eagle Farm this morning and will run next in the Victory Stakes before the BTC Cup,” Heathcote said.
“I’m looking forward to it as he won’t be up against Black Caviar or Hay List this time.”
Buffering won last year’s Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) before finishing third to Black Caviar and Hay List in the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben.
The son of Mossman then missed the start when last to Beaded in the Doomben 10,000 before finishing fourth to Sincero in the Stradbroke.
