Sydney-based trainer Matthew Smith has a wealth of choices for his premier two 1000-metre gallopers this weekend, aiming to capitalise on the available opportunities for Australia’s elite short-course specialists.
Headwall is slated to defend his Concorde Stakes title at Randwick. Meanwhile, Smith’s preferred course of action is to dispatch Way To The Stars to Melbourne for the Moir Stakes.
However, Way To The Stars’ participation in the $750,000 Group 1 event at Sandown hinges on the prevailing weather conditions.
Following unplaced efforts in the July Sprint (1100m) and Missile Stakes (1200m), Way To The Stars secured a win in a 1045m trial at Randwick last Friday. Smith is optimistic that this recent race fitness will prove advantageous on Saturday.
“We had a plan with him, give him an 11 and 12 (hundred-metre race) get him as fit as we could and send him down there and see what happens,” Smith stated.
“We might catch some of those out first-up, but he’d need to get the right track condition.
“He’ll probably go if it’s not too wet.”
Way To The Stars, a son of Reward For Effort, has achieved two victories and three placings from ten starts on Soft tracks, yet has secured six of his eight career wins on Good surfaces.
As of Monday morning, Sandown was rated a Soft 7. While no substantial rainfall is anticipated in Melbourne this week, there is a possibility of showers occurring daily from Tuesday through to race day.
In contrast, Sydney is forecast to experience clear weather throughout the week. Smith is eager to see Headwall compete again, marking his first appearance since triumphing over Lady Shenandoah in last year’s $1 million Concorde Stakes, which this year transitions to Group 2 status for the first time.
The seven-year-old sustained a pastern injury shortly thereafter, leading to a spell in the paddock last spring. However, he has undergone an extensive preparation for his return and impressed in two trials over August.
“It’s going to be a really good race, but he’s going as good as what he was last year going into the race and he’s been in work for a while, he’s fit and well,” Smith confirmed.
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