Trainer Matthew Smith is sending the five-year-old to Newcastle on Tuesday after the meeting was postponed from Sunday due to the heat and she is expected to figure prominently.“She has been around the money of late,” Smith said. “She is just one of those horses who needs things to go right for her in the run.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
“We’re pretty confident she will run the trip. She’s won over 2100m and looked like she wants a little bit further. You can never be 100 per cent sure they will run it out until you try them but she gives us every indication she will.“I think she will make her own luck in the race by sitting handy and keeping out of trouble. It’s a good opportunity to test her at the distance.”The daughter of Rip Van Winkle wasn’t disgraced when seventh behind Le Gai Soleil over 1550m at Kensington two starts back, beaten two-and-a-half lengths, before a fifth to He’s A Given at Gosford last time out.
“It was just too short at Kensington two runs back and last start at Gosford they came back in her face and she got into a tight spot,” Smith said. “They went steady and sprinted, which doesn’t really suit her.“She’s working very well so she’s a good chance, I feel.”Smith will saddle up both Latina Beauty and American Salute in the Benchmark 68 over 1400m.Latina Beauty broke through for somewhat of a surprise win at Wyong three weeks ago when she charged home down the middle of the track to get up right on the line.“It was a good win. She had been running around the country tracks without winning,” he said.“She drew bad the other day but I thought ‘let’s just run her’ and she got the race run to suit. There was a pattern on the day where horses were coming to the outside and running on, which worked in her favour. She’s going well and is some sort of chance again.”American Salute scored a stylish all-the-way win at Canberra two starts back but didn’t appreciate the soft track at Randwick last start. He gets back on to a dry surface here.“His run in town last start wasn’t too bad. He didn’t particularly like the track much,” he said. “His work has been good and I’ve been really happy with him. I think he will give a sight.”Smith feels the time is right for Crowded By Aces to experience race-day pressure.“He is a first starter who is working well and trialling nicely,” he said. “He will be a nice horse once he get a few runs under his belt.’’
Collier Bay beginning to blossom for upbeat Cummings
As the only horse in the field who has raced, Collier Bay can use that experience to her advantage in her bid for victory at Tuesday’s postponed Newcastle meeting.The Anthony Cummings-trained filly overcame a slow getaway before finishing off strongly to finish sixth, a length-and-a-half behind Sliders.“She jumped with them but was slow into stride, which was a bit of a surprise given what she has shown at home,” Cummings said.
“She made ground quickly to get in behind the speed and was then in traffic. It wasn’t until she got her head in the clear that she really hit the line, so overall we were very pleased.”Cummings said the daughter of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist had come on well from the run and was ready for her next assignment.“She has taken good benefit out of the run,” he said. “She is very fit and healthy and ready to go again.“She is a nice filly who has always been a good athlete. Now she is showing the talent to go with it.“I think with just an even break she will be hard to beat.”Providing she comes through this run in the right shape, Cummings has a feature race in mind.“The plan is for her to go to the Inglis Nursery on December 12,” he said.Cummings is looking to kick off the day with a win from tough staying mare Donnachiara.The Eurozone four-year-old is knocking on the door for a win and looks ideally suited stepping up to 2330m for the first time.“It certainly appears she will appreciate more ground and this looks a step in the right direction,” he said.“I expect she will be handy in the run again and acquit herself very well.“There are a few staying races around right now and if she can perform well here, she could find herself in one of the better staying races over the Christmas period.“We will see if we can’t get a stakes performance out of her along the way.”
Source link
