Top jockey Glen Colless is often described as the difference between winning and losing and Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote is praying another example will unfold at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day.Heathcote has tried every trick in the book in the past six weeks to entice his unenthusiastic three-year-old Woorim back into winning form and he has now played his ace by booking Colless to partner the horse in the QTIS Handicap (1500m)."He's been a little bit disappointing to a degree this preparation,"
Top jockey Glen Colless is often described as the difference between winning and losing and Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote is praying another example will unfold at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day.
Heathcote has tried every trick in the book in the past six weeks to entice his unenthusiastic three-year-old Woorim back into winning form and he has now played his ace by booking Colless to partner the horse in the QTIS Handicap (1500m).
"He's been a little bit disappointing to a degree this preparation," Heathcote said.
"I'm hoping it's just a mental maturity thing. He's not concentrating and I'm hoping more than anything a jockey change might make the difference."
Woorim, a full brother to Heathcote's stakes performer My Limit, has been ridden by Eddie Wilkinson in three runs since a spell but the Eagle Farm trainer said the decision to book Colless was no discredit to Wilkinson.
"Eddie hasn't really done much wrong on the horse. He's not focusing on being a racehorse and a new rider might switch him on," Heathcote said.
My Limit finished third in this year's Rough Habit Plate before an unlucky eighth in the QTC Derby.
Woorim indicated he had been blessed with his elder sibling's ability when he scored a decisive win for Wilkinson on debut at Doomben in August.
At his next start, the Show A Heart gelding finished runner-up to the highly-rated Jazz Heart before a third to quality colt Chilled rounded out his first preparation.
Woorim's best effort in three starts this preparation came at his last run when he finished five lengths behind Youthful Jack and Heathcote is hopeful the horse's lack of concentration is a family trait.
"My Limit was a bit the same. He took a while to mature mentally. Woorim has clearly got the ability; he's just a bit dopey," Heathcote said.
Colless will need to produce another of his trademark displays to offset Woorim's awkward draw of 15 but Heathcote was adamant the outside barrier wasn't the drawback it appeared.
"He's been getting back in his races off good draws so he'll just go back again. But if he's within striking distance at the 300 metres they'll know he's there," Heathcote said.
"If he was at his prime he's clearly the horse to beat, if he can wake from his slumber he'll be right in the finish."