A lack of suitable Adelaide races has forced trainer Marilyn Smith to head to Melbourne with quality mare Text’n Hurley.
Text’n Hurley will line up as one of the chances in the Schweppes Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
It will be a return to the scene of Text’n Hurley’s biggest triumph after she claimed last year’s Group Two Sunline Stakes when trained by Colin Little.
Text’n Hurley was transferred to Smith’s beachside training operation in Adelaide because of lameness after three sub-par runs during last year’s spring carnival.
“We weren’t sure how she’d come up after a few setbacks in the spring so the decision was made to send her here to the beach and give her a change of scenery,” Smith said.
Smith, the daughter of respected Adelaide trainer Len Smith who died in 2013, said Text’n Hurley went to the beach most mornings and was enjoying the surf, only heading to the track at Morphettville for a fast gallop.
The change of scenery has produced results with Text’n Hurley finishing a last-start fifth in the Robert A Lee Stakes at Morphettville on May 16, her second run for Smith.
Craig Williams, who won the Sunline Stakes on the mare, reported Text’n Hurley felt in great shape in finishing just over a length from the winner The Bowler.
“She got a bit held up but ran on quite well,” Smith said.
“Craig knows her pretty well and thought she felt good and her work has been good since.”
Based on Text’n Hurley’s liking for Moonee Valley, Smith is expecting a forward showing as she prepares to try the mare over longer distances.
She has nominated Text’n Hurley for the Banjo Paterson Series, a sequence of staying races at Flemington.
“We’ve always been keen to see her get over a bit of ground,” Smith said.
Steven Arnold has the mount on Text’n Hurley at Moonee Valley.
