Smith Gears Up For Revamped Ascot Carnival
Dual state trainer Lindsey Smith is confident he can play a major role and grab a slice of Western Australia’s rich races at the revamped Ascot carnival later this year.
The Warrnambool-based Smith, who also has stables at Karnup, believes he will have a strong hand and can hit the target in Perth’s three major Group 1 races.
From Smith’s Melbourne team Tuvalu stamped his Railway Stakes (1600m) credentials after winning the Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The four-year-old gelding sprinted clear of his rivals in the straight and claimed back to back Flemington wins and his seventh from 11 starts by a dominant two lengths.
A crack at the Winterbottom Stakes is being flagged for In The Boat, an exciting speedster who has won seven of his past eight races and was second favourite for the G1 Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide before missing the race with a stone bruise.
Locally, God Has Chosen capably flew the Perth flag with a hatrick of wins including a sensational finishing run from near last to win the Belmont Sprint (1400m).
The Playing God gelding backed up with a narrow second in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m) before ending his campaign in the Strickland Stakes (2000m) when third to Prince Turbo.
Smith said the Railway Stakes (1600m) and the Northerly Stakes (1800m), previously named the Kingston Town Classic, are potential target races for Tuvalu in Perth.
“He’s been well looked after, the owners have been very patient, but he’s still a little bit immature,” Smith said on Tabradio.
“He’s got a bit more strength to catch up with, but is a good sound horse, good legged horse, so he’s got a good long career in front of him.
“It’s a race (Railway Stakes) that is dear to my heart and you have the 1800m (Northerly) which maybe is his pet distance.
“You’ve got another horse at home (Perth) that will be a bit better next prep, God Has Chosen.
“I just think we can say that he didn’t run the 2000m (Strickland) this time, maybe next time, but it’s no use going there for the minute.
“We’ll have In The Boat who will come for the Winterbottom and Corner Pocket who doesn’t do much wrong.
“He’s won a few in a row and could come, so we’ll have something to combat Uncle Bob (Bob Peters).”
Smith won the 2016 Railway Stakes with a horse that was so close to his heart, Scales Of Justice.
The son of Not A Single Doubt won over $2 million in prize money after 12 wins and as many placings from 30 starts.
He also made an impact in Melbourne by winning the G1 Memsie (1400m), the G2 Australia Stakes (1200m) and G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m).
Scales Of Justice sadly died two years ago after completing routine exercise on a beach at Warrnambool.
Smith said there were similarities between Scales Of Justice and Tuvalu.
“He was bought quite simply because it was like looking at Scales Of Justice,” Smith said.
“That was one of the main reasons why we bought him.
“He’s doing similar things, but is a bit more babyish.
“There’s not much difference in ability I don’t think.”
The Railway Stakes, Winterbottom Stakes and Northerly Stakes carry a prize purse of $1.5 million, a $500.000 increase from last year.
Julio Santarelli