Robert Smerdon will prepare Westsouthwest for a crack at the Tasmanian Derby in February following his solid effort to win at his second start for the Aquanita Racing trainer at Caulfield.
The Darci Brahma three-year-old had been with the Mick Price stable for his first three starts and won a Mornington 1500m maiden at his second outing when resuming on October 30.
The gelding was sold on to the Smerdon stable after he ran 11th to So Swift in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 12.
His first run for the new stable was a seventh of eight to Blast Out Of Here over 1600m at Ballarat on November 30 and he appreciated the step up in distance to win Wednesday’s Design To Print Hcp (2000m).
Ridden by Danny Nikolic, Westsouthwest ($2.40 fav) ran down race leader Haroldhaut ($26) early in the straight and went on to score by 2-1/4 lengths with De Triomphe ($4.40) a half-head away third.
“When I got him into the one-one trail he settled beautifully. He’s a good horse,” Nikolic said.
Smerdon said Nikolic, who rode the horse at his previous start, went out with a view to get going on him early.
“He doesn’t normally zip, he builds his momentum and he was strong to the line so hopefully he can take that a bit further,” the trainer said.
“He’s pretty fit now and the race (Derby) is a little bit away but we’ll just bide our time with him.”
Westsouthwest was wearing a tongue tie for the first time but Smerdon attributed his improvement to the step up to 2000m.
Stawell trainer Terry O’Sullivan was very happy with the effort of runner-up Haroldhaut who is a half-brother to his 2005 Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) winner Tails Of Triomphe.
“He’s a tough little horse but this is his first preparation so we might give him one more run and then freshen him up and get him ready for the South Australian Derby in May,” O’Sullivan said.
The Colin and Cindy Alderson-trained Bartholemew was a late scratching from the event with the club veterinarian ruling him out due to lameness in the near-hind leg.
AAP TURF
