WORLD CHARMER SHOWS HER WORTH

By Graham Potter | Friday, July 22, 2022

In fairness, connections probably didn’t quite know what to expect from World Charmer when the lightly raced five-year-old mare faced the starter in a BM58 contest over 1100m at Gatton on July 22.

It was the daughter of Charm Spirit’s first run for trainer Greg Cornish who was the fourth trainer to be given charge of World Charmer in a little over a year ... a fact which arguably suggested the horse had some issues.

The Cornish team never doubted the fact that World Charmer did have some ability, but she was taken on as very much a work in progress by Greg Cornish, who took her through two successful trials (where she finished third in one and won the other), but race-day remained something still to be conquered.

And, at one stage, that did look to be a mountain to climb … as shown in these two relevant extracts from the official steward’s report on the first two occasions that World Charmer was due to race for the Cornish stable.

On February 9: World Charmer was declared a late scratching at 5:43pm by Stewards for being excessively fractious in the mounting yard with its rider unable to be safely mounted.

And then, on March 23: The start of this race was delayed when World Charmer when entering the track failed to proceed to the barriers. The mare was subsequently declared a late scratching by order of the Stewards.

A lot of work, patience and perseverance went into getting World Charmer into race order. Her trial win came on June 2. Twenty days later it was once again time for her to be tested under race-day conditions … and this time she would pass with flying colours, even though she was unwanted in the betting at $16.

Jasmin Cornish had to push World Charmer out strongly in the early part to claim the early led. It did take all of 200m to gain the desired ascendency though and World Charmer was joined mid-race by the $4.40 favourite New York Gal, ridden keenly by Robbie Fradd, who slipped up along the inside of World Charmer.

Cornish and World Charmer met that challenge with a firm commitment of their own and World Charmer was back in front on her own on straightening and the duo left New York Gal for dead in the home straight,
stretching out in impressive fashion to open up a 3.30 length winning margin at the line.

“It’s been a long time trying to get her to the races … it’s been all about trying to get her into the right head-space because she has got so much ability,” said Jasmine Cornish.

“We did take her to Ipswich a couple of months ago. We took her onto the track and she just planted her feet and would not move, which was really disappointing because I thought she would have been a really good chance back then as well.

“We were confident today. We had trialled her twice at the Gold Coast and last time I was under a very hard hold. Then I galloped her the other day and I came back and looked at dad and he looked at me and said, ‘I have never had a horse gallop that fast.’

“I was amazed. At the 600m I thought I was at full gallop and then at the 400 I think she went quicker again by another couple of seconds.

“Because of all we have done in trying to get her right, she is very special. It’s taken a while, like I said, to get her in the right head space. We’ve had to be very patient with her.

“All I wanted today was for everything to go right and for her to get some confidence … and I think that is what she got. Hopefully she keeps improving after this.”

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