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Stayers aiming for late spring prize money cheques

3 minute read

Sydney trainer Matthew Smith is hoping to get some end of spring carnival spoils when he is represented by three runners at the Sandown meeting on Saturday.

Smith has Attorney  contesting the $250,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m), Sweet Thomas  running in the $150,000 Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) and Tricky Gal  in the $160,000 Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m). 

ATTORNEY winning the Jra Colin Stephen Qlty
ATTORNEY winning the Jra Colin Stephen Qlty Picture: Racing and Sports

Unable to travel because of enforced restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith has had to rely on staff in Melbourne over the spring. 

Smith dispatched a couple of members with Fierce Impact , who won the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) early in the spring, saying those members had been in Melbourne for around eight weeks which became a costly exercise. 

Trainer: MATTHEW SMITH
Trainer: MATTHEW SMITH  Picture: Racing and Sports

"I would have liked a few more runners, but not being able to get down there myself meant a few more stayed here instead," Warwick Farm-based Smith said. 

Sweet Thomas  has remained in Melbourne since finishing sixth to Sin To Win at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. 

Smith had been hoping to get Sweet Thomas to the Melbourne Cup, but his campaign was interrupted when stuck in Melbourne following a race at Flemington in July. 

"It was a bit difficult for us to monitor him," Smith said. 

"We had plans of trying to get him to the Melbourne Cup, but after he ran poorly in the Newcastle Cup we decided to change tact with him. 

"He had to run better than he did at Newcastle to go to where I wanted to go with him, but he ran well at Flemington the other day and I think he's spot on for this race." 

Sweet Thomas has raced twice at 3200m in Australia, finished fourth to Etah James in the Sydney Cup in April before winning the Stayers' Cup at Rosehill in June. 

"He definitely needs every yard of the two miles and even if it was further it would be better for him," Smith said. 

In an open betting race, Sweet Thomas is rated an $8.50 chance with TAB. 

Sin To Win heads the market at $4 from Carif at $4.20 and Miami Bound at $4.40 with Etah James next in line at $7. 

Attorney won the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill in September before running fourth in the St Leger at Randwick on October 17. 

Smith said Attorney had been down to run twice at Flemington during Cup week, but decided to wait until Saturday's assignment. 

"For different reasons I wasn't 100 per cent happy, so we've just waited and ended up in this race," Smith said. 

"He's going super and in good shape. He's probably eligible for easier races, but this is the only race left for us, so we thought we'd have a crack at it." 

Attorney has met with support in the lead-up to Saturday's race, firming from $15 into $10 in which Avilius is the $3.90 favourite. 

Tricky Gal is backing up after running second to Savatiano in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday. 

"It's a nice end of spring carnival race for her and she gets in well at the weights," Smith said. 

Tricky Gal is second elect at $5 behind fellow Sydney-trained mare Missile Mantra ($4) from the Peter and Paul Snowden yard. 


Racing and Sports

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