Cox Plate Not Such A Stretch For Woorim

Woorim

The Cox Plate could be on the cards for Woorim after a strong win at Moonee Valley

Robert Heathcote could be excused for feeling somewhat unbeatable at the moment after his two live wire Queensland exports both enjoyed wins down in Melbourne on the weekend.

Buffering got the job done, just, over a quality field at Moonee Valley while Woorim was even more convincing in his run.

What made it even more impressive was the fact he carried 60.5kg in the process and it was only his first up run.

This has led Heathcote to post him as the favourite for the upcoming Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, a race he finished third in last year.

“He was dominant and he went to the line easing down,” Heathcote said.

“He’s in career-best form at the right time of year. If we get a good-to-dead track for the Rupert Clarke, they won’t beat him.”

Following the Rupert Clarke Stakes in two weeks time is the Toorak Handicap but after that there’s no set plan, event the Cox Plate remains on the cards.

“There will be people who’ll laugh, but I don’t care. Our options are open,” Heathcote said.

“He has shown he can handle Moonee Valley.

“His brother My Limit was a 2200m horse. We had one go with Woorim over 2000m and he was fourth in town but they were the bad old days when I couldn’t get his feet right and we couldn’t get him on the bit.

“Who knows? It doesn’t hurt to dream and the Crystal Mile on the same day is there as a back-up.”

The 2011 Cox Plate is being touted as one of the most open affairs in a long time with the absence of any clear cut favourite.

While for Woorim it will mean a jump in distance, for Buffering it’s a jump in class when he gets to the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

In that race he’ll face off against the likes of More Joyous and Sepoy as well as the two he only narrowly beat on the weekend Crystal Lily and Atomic Force.

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