Palazzo Pubblico will head to the Begonia Belle Stakes
Fresh from stakes success, trainer Matthew Smith is confident his good run can continue with two midweek runners at Warwick Farm.
Palazzo Pubblico scored a shock first-up win in the Listed Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, while talented filly Faraway Town made an impressive return to racing by finishing third in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick on the same day.
The Gerry Harvey-owned Palazzo Pubblico will head to the Group Three Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) on Saturday week and Smith expects her to have no problem handling the Flemington straight.
Faraway Town’s next run will be the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) on Cup Day before the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on November 12.
“I’m really happy the stable is going well,” Smith said.
“It’s nice to be winning some races for some good owners.
“I’m sure we can keep it going.”
How Sweet It Is continued the stable’s success at Nowra on Sunday and staying mare I’m Trouble and lightly raced four-year-old Sharpsburg can extend the stable’s run of success at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting.
Sharpsburg contests the 1000m benchmark handicap off a let-up after his last-start third at Goulburn on August 15.
“It knocked him round that last run so we just gave him a bit of a freshen-up,” Smith said.
“The 1000 metres, he might be looking for that little bit further.
“But he has had that little freshen-up so it’s a good place to get him started on our home track.”
Sharpsburg will be aiming for his third win at his fifth start as he makes his metropolitan debut.
Stablemate I’m Trouble returns to 2400m, a distance she has won at before, when she runs in another benchmark race on Wednesday.
It will be the 16th run of a campaign which kicked off in March.
Smith admitted it was a mistake to run her off a quick back-up at Warwick Farm on October 3, her first failure after finishing runner-up four times in a row.
“She’s back in a more suitable race now,” Smith said,
“She’s been in work a long time and she still seems to be doing well.”
“I don’t have any real expectations. When she’s at her best she’s only fair but she’s a chance in a race like that for sure.”
With his team starting to perform at a crucial point in the racing year, Smith also has one eye on the stable’s emerging youngsters.
“We’ve got a few more horses trialling this week and next week and we should have a new bunch of horses coming through,” Smith said.
