Outsider Woorim has given leading Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote his first Group One win in spectacular fashion in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
Unwinding a whirlwind finish from last at the 300 metres, the six-year-old started at $21 and snatched victory in the very last bound in a blanket-finish where only a length separated the first five horses.
Three-year-old Sydney filly Elite Falls ($51) came from second last to fail by a short half-head while another Brisbane galloper, Facile Tigre ($26), was a head away third.
First Command ($18) finished fourth and champion three-year-old and $3.20 favourite Sepoy, who led, was brave carrying 58kg and finished fifth.
Bel Sprinter ($3.30) lost his chance when he missed the start and was sixth, 1-1/2 lengths from the winner.
A former Contiki tour guide, Heathcote has won the last two Brisbane trainers’ premierships but said winning his first Group One was his greatest career achievement.
“There it is, finally,” Heathcote said.
“It’s a Group One, it’s the golden chalice for a trainer and right up there with the highlights of my life with the usual cliches like the birth of our kids and all of that.”
“I’m as proud as punch.”
Heathcote and jockey Damian Browne both feared the 1100 metres would be too short for Woorim who has won 11 of his 37 starts, with five of them at 1400 metres and one at 1500 metres.
“Back last against a crack field of sprinters like that you just don’t think you can win,” Heathcote said.
“Then coming to the home turn I saw the orange cap pop out and Damian Browne on top.
“He (Browne) knows what the horse is capable of doing.
“I didn’t know, to be honest, when they hit the line if he got up but I knew he was coming that fast.
“What a buzz.
“The owners Ross and Judy Cutts have been to the top of Everest but it is my first Group One and special thanks to them for helping me get there”
Browne said the Oakleigh Plate was run at a frenetic pace and he had Woorim under the whip just 300 metres after the start to try to get him to keep up.
“They went real quick and he was flat out the entire trip,” Browne said.
“He was under the stick at the half-mile (800m) but I knew he would hit the line strongly.
“I was just worried about how much start I was giving them and just short of the post I thought I might have given them two strides too much.
“It was touch and go whether he got there but thankfully he stuck his head out.”
Woorim was having his first start since finishing a luckless seventh to Albert The Fat in the Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November.
He has now firmed from $31 to $13 with TAB Sportsbet for the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) which will be his next start at Flemington on March 10.
Sepoy did the hard work in front and his Australian farewell before leaving for Dubai was full of merit.
