Trainer Lindsey Smith has ambitious plans for Triple Missile after his devastating victory in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill.
Switching back from a 1400m victory in a heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship at Flemington last start, Triple Missile came from near last on the turn to claim the $150,000 race over 1200m on Friday.
Ridden by Craig Newitt, Triple Missile ($5) scored by a widening two lengths from Curran ($13) with Sirius Suspect ($26) a short-half-head away third.
Triple Mission had won six of his 11 starts before making his way to Victoria where he finished fourth in the Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool at his easter states debut.
Smith said the Swan Hill track, with its long straight, was ideal for Triple Missile.
“Sometimes when you stretch these horses out, it takes away that finish,” Smith told racing.com.
“He’s done some things at home against some good horses on the tight Ascot track where a track like this, it suits him better.”
Smith said he was likely to keep Triple Mission to shorter trips and may look to a Group 1 sprint in Melbourne next autumn with the gelding.
“I don’t want to be going the early crow, but a race like the Oakleigh Plate, where they jump and go along quite hard, with his booming finish, it may suit,” Smith said.
“That’s a race I might earmark with the owners and if it comes off, it comes off.”
Newitt, who has ridden a number of Group 1 sprint winners throughout his long and established career, said Triple Missile’s acceleration was as good as any horse he has ridden.
“He does no work early, even when he draws a gate he can position up, but I think left alone, at these sprinting trips, he’s going to go a long way,” Newitt said.
