Smokin’ Joey, who has blazed his way through his autumn campaign, could tempt trainer Anthony Freedman to take him to Queensland for key winter features after a dominant win in the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield.
Heavily backed from $4.80 to $3.60 favouritism, the four-year-old made it three wins in a row in Saturday’s Group Three 1400-metre event with jockey Vlad Duric declaring the gelding was up to better grade.
“It was a pretty competitive race today and he has taken the step pretty easily,” Duric said after Smokin’ Joey scored a 2-1/2 length win over Under The Eiffel ($5) and Bagman ($11) who held up the start when he cast a plate.
“It was a pretty soft win in the end and he is definitely worth a crack at better races.”
Smokin’ Joey has always been just shy of the top grade but since he has been gelded and recovered from a hamstring injury which severely interrupted his racing career he has blossomed.
As a two-year-old he was competitive in the Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes (fourth) and the following spring was sixth in the 2010 Caulfield Guineas before he failed to stay in the Victoria Derby.
Duric, who has formed a successful association with the Freedman stable since returning from Singapore a few weeks ago, said Smokin’ Joey produced a winning track gallop last Tuesday.
“He worked exceptionally well and after I watched his replays I was pretty confident I was on the best horse in the race,” Duric said.
“My main objective early was to get him out rolling forward and I was able to navigate that in first 100 metres.
“From then on it was just a matter of going through the motions and getting the job done.”
Smokin’ Joey’s victory followed a win at Sandown on February 22 and Listed success over Pago Rock at Flemington on March 10.
Freedman’s stable foreman Steve Adams said a Queensland campaign couldn’t be ruled out for Smokin’ Joey.
“The Stradbroke Handicap where he could get in with a lightweight could be an option but Anthony will make that decision,” Adams said.
