Robert Heathcote will look to the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield this weekend in the latest attempt to break his Group 1 maiden.
Heathcote has dominated the Queensland trainers premiership for the past three years but that Group 1 triumph remains ever elusive.
Were it not for Black Caviar and Hay List he’d probably already have a few to his credit given stable star Buffering has finished behind the pairing twice at Group 1 level and second to Black Caviar once as well.
It’s his other flag bearer, Woorim, that’s been given the task of an Oakleigh Plate triumph this Saturday.
It’s a tough ask though, while Black Caviar and Hay List might not be there Sepoy and Bel Sprinter are.
In fact the entire field is full of talent leading many to declare it the race of the weekend.
Heathcote knows what he’s up against and he knows the conditions of the race aren’t perfect either.
“Look, 1100m is probably too short,” Heathcote said.
“You’re probably going to see Sepoy and Bel Sprinter up there on the speed but hopefully someone else takes them on and the swoopers have their chance because that’s exactly what Woorim is, a very talented swooper.”
Few will debate the closing abilities of Woorim, his victory on Derby Day in the spring was one of the runs of the carnival after turning at the rear of the field before unleashing a devastating sprint down the widest part of the track.
That was over more ground though and he might not be given the opportunity to fully wind up.
His main targets come later in the carnival and that’s where Heathcote will really hope to have him flying.
“He’ll go to the Newmarket and then he’ll come back up to Sydney for the [George] Ryder and that’s the lead in to the Doncaster,” he said.
He’s not writing off his horse in the Oakleigh Plate but knows that once again he could be facing some champions in the making.
“Sepoy, and Bel Sprinter and they look like they’re both exceptionally talented as well, and whether they’re champions in their own right it’s hard to say,” Heathcote said.
“You’ve got to be in it to win it.”
