Alison Smith didn't get too technical when she laid out her expectations for Vaquero, her four-year-old gelding that's set to run in the 1400 metre Class 2 Handicap at Towac Park on Sunday,
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"He looks like Tarzan... hopefully he doesn't run like Jane."
Vaquero is one of three Smith-trained horses competing at Sunday's Legend's Race Day and while she's hopeful the trio all have good outings, she's not shying away from the fact that they aren't all that suited to the distances they're running.
"He's [Vaquero] bred to go a mile and-a-half," she said.
"I couldn't find a suitable distance unless I took him away from home and the travel knocks the horse around and it knocks me around.
"Some people don't care about that but I do. I expect Vaquero to run a fast race."
Vaquero's coming off a third-placed finish at Orange in February and Smith hopes to see him go one (or two) places better on Sunday.
Supreme Gem hasn't earned a place in its last six starts and even though she's recovering from an illness, Smith is hopeful she can get closer to the form that saw her win back-to-back runs in December of 2018.
"She runs better than her form, we've just been trying to get a few things right," she said.
"She's had a bit of a setback with her illness.
"1000 metres isn't really suited to her but we'll kick her back off on a home track and see how she goes.
"I hope she can run a more improved pace. There's been a few underlying issues we've tried to iron out but I think I'm on top of it."
History suggests the four-year-old mare could be a smokey to pick up some prize money because even though her recent form isn't pretty, she's placed in three of her last four runs at home which adds credence to Smith's choice of keeping the horses close to their stables and not worrying as much about the class they're running in.
"Just because they're out of their class doesn't mean they can't run well," she said.
"I know where they're all at. It's about getting some fitness under their legs and getting them ready for some better races down the track."
Mr Magsman will make his debut for Smith in the third race of the day and while she considered taking him elsewhere, she opted to leave him at home as well.
"I could have taken him to the 40k Maiden at Coonamble but I thought it'd be better to leave him at home," she said.
It's always hard to pick a favourite when you've worked tirelessly on all of your horses but when push came to shove, Smith pointed out Vaquero as her best shot.
"He's the best chance to pick up some prize money. If they all run in the top five I'd be happy," she said. All three of Smith's horses will be ridden by Anthony Cavallo.
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