A jumpout in Melbourne on Tuesday was used in part to remind Smart Missile to work into a more prominent position from the start of his races.
Trainer Anthony Cummings was frustrated Smart Missile wasn’t asked by Brett Prebble to improve into the race earlier on Saturday in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, leaving the colt too big a task when finishing midfield after a checkered passage in the straight.
“When the gates opened (last Saturday) the horse bowed his head and went to the tail of the field because that’s all he’s ever been asked to do,” Cummings said.
“It’s no fault on the horse, he’s just been doing what he’s asked to do.
“The reality is you can’t be giving starts like that all the time, certainly not in big fields, and if you’re going to be competitive at the top end you’ve got to be putting yourself in a competitive position from the gate.
“Today was a bit about reminding the horse that that’s what’s got to happen so that we don’t have to go and have a practice in a Caulfield Guineas.”
Cummings said Smart Missile only worked for the first 400m of the 800m jumpout at Caulfield, in which champion Black Caviar impressed in winning by six lengths.
“They (Smart Missile and Black Caviar) were in the same trial but they weren’t out to do the same thing,” Cummings said.
Smart Missile’s new jockey Corey Brown rode the colt to a debut victory in the Breeders Plate 12 months ago but hasn’t been aboard in a race since.
He will partner him in the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday week in which Smart Missile is the second favourite behind Guineas Prelude winner Helmet.
AAP TURF
