Robert Heathcote’s talented Show A Heart gelding Woorim will this Saturday vie for back-to-back wins in the Glasshouse Handicap, but it is a tough test ahead for the five-year-old who must break a weight carrying record to do so.
Woorim will have to set a weight carrying record to win his second Glasshouse Handicap on Saturday
Twelve months ago Woorim carted a light 53kg to victory in the $175,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at Caloundra.
Since then the brave Brisbane galloper has shown plenty of ability, including their close third to Response in the Group 1 sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) last September at Caulfield and their recent black-type victory in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben last month.
Their triumphs on the track over the past year have seen Woorim attract a much heavier weight for their second Glasshouse Handicap attempt, Racing Queensland handicapper Nathan Bourke announcing the horse will be allocated between 58kg and 59kg.
Although higher-weighted runners have a good record in the Glasshouse Handicap, the most weight ever carried to victory was 57.5kg by both Hard To Catch (2007) and Pinnacles (2008).
Bourke also named Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready as the other Glasshouse Handicap entry this year that would likely attract the top-weight along with Woorim.
Woorim, however, will probably be 0.5kg above Phelan Ready as the More Than Ready gelding hasn’t won a race since their 2009 Golden Slipper victory over two years ago.
“It could be argued Woorim and Phelan Ready are entitled to a bit more than 58kg,” Bourke said.
“I know he hasn’t won for a while, but Phelan Ready was very good first up in the Group 2 QTC Cup, where he had 56kg on a 52kg limit.”
The QTC Cup over 1300m at Eagle Farm on June 4 was Phelan Ready’s most recent run, the Jason McLachlan-trained four-year-old able to come within a length of upset winner Varenna Miss in the event despite being forced to race wide throughout.
There were 30 horses nominated for the Glasshouse Handicap on Monday, with the maximum 18-starter final field to be released on Wednesday.
Other notable hopefuls include dual Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes winner Adnocon who ran second to Woorim in the Glasshouse last year, the James Lyons-trained Deagon galloper Drenalin, last-start Ipswich Cup victor Gold In Dubai who will more likely contest the Caloundra Cup at the same meeting and in-form Encosta De Lago six-year-old Mystical Grey who has won their last four consecutive races.
It looks to be good news in the weight department for the Gerald Ryan-trained Clang gelding Adnocon, Bourke stating he was to be given the same 56.5kg they carried to victory in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich last start.
Adnocon will then meet Woorim 3kg better in the weights, giving them every chance to turn the tables on the horse that beat them into second by a length in the Glasshouse this time last year.
“This is a tougher race than the Eye Liner, so that’s why Adnocon won’t go up this week,” Bourke explained.
Trainer Ryan has confirmed Adnocon as a definite starter in the race.
“Adnocon will definitely be there with Glen Colless to ride,” he said.
“He ran second on him last year so he knows him well.”
The jockey aboard Adnocon for their victory in the Eye Liner, Damien Brown, is committed to ride rival Woorim in the Glasshouse on Saturday.
“The reports from the boys up there looking after Adnocon say he has come through the Eye Liner well,” Ryan said.
“He has improved and is very bright in himself.
“I imagine Adnocon will get 56 or 57 (kilograms) based on the rankings which is a fair weight for him.
“He still has to beat Woorim again but he has had a long carnival while Adnocon is still fresh.”
