Trainer Robert Heathcote reckons Saturday’s star-studded George Ryder Stakes should undergo a name change.
“They could really call it the Doncaster Prelude,” Heathcote said.
“It’s super for racing.”
There is already a Doncaster Prelude and it will be run at Randwick on Saturday week, but the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) does looks as though it will be the most important Doncaster pointer.
Eight of the top 16 horses in Doncaster betting will tackle the Ryder, including Niagara and Secret Admirer who are the top two fancies for the Randwick mile.
Heathcote will run Woorim in Saturday’s Rosehill feature en route to the Doncaster at Randwick on April 21.
Woorim was spellbinding when winning the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up and again impressed when fifth to Hay List in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Heathcote is happy to overlook his last-start flop in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) when he tailed the field throughout.
“The bugger did it last preparation,” Heathcote said.
“He ran a poor race about third-up then came out and won a Group Three and he was unlucky not to win the Emirates.
“I’m hoping he can turn it around and his work suggests he can. He’s happy and enthusiastic.”
Woorim is renowned for his devastating finishing sprint but the hooves that propel him have also been his biggest enemy.
The six-year-old has dodgy feet and has to be carefully managed, although Heathcote says this preparation they are the best they’ve been.
“He’s had quite a few chronic hoof injuries,” Heathcote said.
“But I’m confident his hooves are as good as they’ve ever been this campaign.”
Woorim is one of 17 George Ryder runners and Heathcote says race tempo is crucial to his chances – along with the gelding’s mindset on the day.
“Weight-for-age races can be a trap. They can walk and sprint,” Heathcote said.
“If it’s a genuine race and one or two want to set a good tempo, that’s the key.
“And if he’s in the right frame of mind and says, `Let’s have some fun today’, then he is capable of running them down and winning.”
Woorim has been in Sydney for the past couple of weeks to prepare for his autumn assignments.
He is a seasoned traveller, although Heathcote worries that he might be feeling the absence of stablemate Buffering.
“If there is any downside it’s that Buffering is home in Queensland,” Heathcote said.
“He’s left his mate. The two of them have travelled together for the last 18 months.”
Buffering, placed at Group One level at his past four starts, is being readied for a winter campaign in Brisbane.
