Woorim will run at Moonee Valley tonight as long as there is no serious downgrade to track conditions

Contrary to what was being discussed yesterday afternoon Queensland runner Woorim will start at Moonee Valley tonight providing there’s no serious downgrade to current track conditions.

With the heavy downpour in Melbourne earlier in the week Heathcote said the owners didn’t want to run the horse however that changed when they learned how well Moonee Valley was currently coping.

It’s sitting at a dead 5 at the moment but with showers still persisting it’s expected to probably slip to a slow 6 by the start of the program.

Heathcote says that will be an acceptable level however should it get any worse than that they’d by scratching him once more.

“Slow 7 heavy 8, if that were to come and the track got chopped up he’d come out and get ready for the Toorak,” he said.

Woorim has very impressive when winning first up at Moonee Valley a few weeks ago but was perhaps the disappointment of the day when he tailed off last start in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Heathcote says the horse simply just didn’t stretch out on the Good 2 surface and there are no issues with the short six day turnaround.

“Surprisingly even on the Sunday we gave him a little light trot and he was fine,” he said.

“The horse really looked  after itself and didn’t too much.”

In addition to Woorim Heathcote also has Buffering on the program, he’ll run in the feature event Manikato Stakes.

There’s no doubt the horse has serious quality and Heathcote is confident he can mix it with the big boys.

“I’m excited simply to be in the race…he’s a tough little horse,” he said.

While some trainers might be reserved with their tactics there are no questions about the plan for Buffering.

“I make no secret we’re going to jump and go forward,” he said.

“We’re going out with plenty of intent, that’s the way the horse runs.”

He expects to have zero issues with the track conditions at Moonee Valley, regardless of if the rain continues to fall.

“Buffering has already won on a very heavy track, carried 58kg at Eagle Farm on a heavy 10 and also beat Atomic Force in the Victory Stakes as well,” he said.

“He’s more than proven himself on rain affected tracks.”