While Supreme Gem's last few preps haven't given Alison Smith the results she's wanted, the Orange trainer thinks a couple of weeks off and a drop in class has the four-year-old mare primed to buck a losing trend at Wellington on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Adrian Layt will be in the saddle for the $20,000 Wellington Soldiers Memorial Cup Class 2 Plate (1400m) and despite drawing a wide barrier (11), Smith says everything else suits her horse well in race six.
"She's back in her own class and her work's been a lot better going into this race than it was before Narromine," Smith said.
She's back in her own class and her work's been a lot better.
- Alison Smith
Supreme Gem's coming off a last-start effort where she finished 13th out of 14 horses at Narromine and Smith thinks an unfortunate barrier and a deceptively heavy track made it tough going.
"I didn't think her run was as bad as it looked on paper," she said.
"She drew very badly and I just think her fitness gave out on her a bit.
"They had it down as a four but Greg Ryan said it felt more like a six... it was hard yakka going through the grass."
Smith's also got Krissy Krystyna and Cotton on George competing on Sunday who both came back from spells in good touch.
"They both ran really nicely first up," she said.
"They're drawn a little awkwardly but they've both got nice riders that should be able to overcome it."
Cotton on George will be ridden by Matthew Cahill in race one, the $20,000 Hermitage Hill Country Retreat Maiden Handicap (900m) at 12.25pm, while Adrian Layt will be in the saddle for Krissy Krystyna in race two, the $20,000 Allendale Merino Stud Maiden Handicap (900m) from 1pm.
Smith also touched on Vaquero's run at Hawkesbury on Tuesday as the four-year-old gelding ran 6th over 1800 metres in a strong field of competitors.
"He's still learning what to do but everyone that's ridden him has said it's a really nice horse in the making," she said.
"He might have one more run then he'll go to the paddock... he did well the other day."
Also making the trip to the Wellington Race Club on Sunday is Brad Draper's Seawatch who was scratched from last Sunday's Dubbo event.
The surface, which is rated as a five, should suit Draper's mare in the $20,000 Australian Racing Trophies GG & E Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m), the 7th race on the card at 4pm.
Sharon Jeffries' Happy Partner will be looking to re-find the form that saw it win the Orange Cup prelude as a massive underdog as it's set to go in race six, the $20,000 Keirle's Pharmacy Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m) at 3.25pm.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...