3 minute read
They say racehorses aren’t machines and consistent galloper Miracle Spin is a good example.
As much as Matt Smith would love to be able to flick a switch and make him less one-dimensional the gelding is having nothing of it for the moment so the trainer heads to the TAB Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday just hoping he gets the right set up to produce his trademark powerful finish.
There's no doubt Miracle Spin is racing in peak form so Smith is reluctant to force any change.
"He's a quirky horse and I'm not really game to upset him too much,'' he said.
"I'm just hoping he'll come out of it and next prep he'll be better, that sooner or later he turns the corner.
"We've tried in barrier trials (to change him) and a couple of jockeys have said he just resents it when you try to get after him.
"You're better off running in the first three somewhere than getting it wrong and going terrible."
Miracle Spin, $5.50 with TAB on Friday, posted easily the race's fastest last 600m (34.21, Punter's Intelligence) and last 200m (11.83) when he charged home to just miss behind Naval College at Randwick three weeks ago.
He meets that horse 2kg better and finds himself with just eight rivals as opposed to double that amount last start so Smith is hopeful he won't concede as much start.
The four-year-old had a week's freshen up and a trial since that run and Smith was encouraged by the horse jumping better in his tickover trial.
"He went up to the farm for a week and had an easy week, we wanted to top him off (with a trial). To get longevity out of preparations you've got to give them little breaks,'' he said.
"If he can be midfield I'd give him a ripping chance to win that race but it comes down to where he is in the run."
It's fair to say the preparation hasn't gone to plan for Hungarian galloper Esti Feny since his breakthrough Gosford Cup win and Smith said he's almost back on track having missed the Lord Mayors Cup a month ago with a temperature.
Smith said it's easier to miss a run with sprinters than with stayers and with an even effort at Rosehill two weeks ago under his belt is expecting improvement in the Listed $160,000 Toyota Forklifts WJ McKell Cup (2000m).
"It's really set us back a run, he had that run the other day and I thought it was reasonable,'' he said.
"If he can run in the first four we are back in business. He'll bounce back to near his best on Saturday and then he'll be cherry ripe after that."
The Warwick Farm trainer is sitting on 90 winners for the season and is naturally keen to bring up a century for the first time before the end of July.
"It's been a good year for us and we've been working hard to give us a chance to get the winners we've had,'' he said.
Matt Smith on Pioneer Lass (race 2): "She's flying, she's a country and provincial horse but she is a trier. Every time she runs she does well and I wouldn't be surprised to see her zipping home and hitting the line strong."
On Daralina Belle (race 7): "I'd like to see her bounce back to her best and run a good race, she's due to step up to the plate. When you're tardy away like she is all the time you're on the back foot straight away. We put winkers on to try something to get her up on the bridle a bit."
