Gold Coast trainer Renita Beaton believes the Voodoo Ranger Handicap on Wednesday at Ipswich represents an ideal third-up assignment for Smart As Smart, making the wide barrier draw all the more frustrating for her.
The Smart Missile gelding secured the outermost stall in the 12-horse field, plus one emergency, for the 1710m benchmark 70 contest.
Beaton remains willing to let the six-year-old contest the race, a two-time victor at Ipswich, provided there are a few withdrawals.
“We’ve had to run him from terrible draws in the past and he’s just been one of the most unlucky horses and I just don’t want to do that to his owners again,” Beaton said.
“Look, we might draw bad again next time and you have to go around, but if I can protect him for one more run I will.
“We’ll wait until tomorrow to see if there are any scratchings and if there is we may run him.”
If he starts, Jace McMurray will ride Smart As Smart while claiming 2kg to bring his weight to 59kg.
The gelding kicked off his preparation with a Class 5 victory over 1350m at Doomben on April 1, followed by a close second in similar company stretching to 1640m two weeks ago.
This marks the steadiest start to a campaign for Smart As Smart, whom Beaton acquired from Ron Quinton a little more than two years back, and she anticipates a bold effort third-up no matter the venue.
“He’s in really good order, he’s always been such a consistent horse for me,” Beaton said.
“Every time I take him to the races he seems to show up and he’s very honest.
“He’s in very good order, he’s racing very well and consistently and there’s no reason why he won’t go and do that again.”
Check out the racing betting markets for the Voodoo Ranger Handicap at Australian betting sites.