True Marvel will be Matthew Smith’s only runner in Friday’s Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m), having run second in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at $151 in the Autumn.
He also placed in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) and even managed to win a maiden hurdle at Hamilton in impressive style in between.
“He’s one of those horses, if he gets the right conditions, gets soft tracks, he goes pretty good. He just doesn’t handle the tracks when they’re too firm so his Spring will be dependent on tracks really,” Smith said.
Friday’s race is just a starting point for the Spring with fitness to come, but all options are on the table so long as conditions suit.
“We’ll just get him fit first, he’ll take a couple of runs up in trip, then we’ve got to hope we get some soft tracks. It (the Autumn) was brilliant, we’ll definitely put a Melbourne Cup nom in, you never know,” Smith said.
Also likely to run this weekend is classy filly French Endeavour, but it won’t be in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong, Smith opting to drop her back in grade after a midfield finish in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m)
“She wasn’t beaten far, I thought it was a good run, beaten less than three lengths and probably not suitable for her that trip, once she gets over a bit further look out,” Smith said.
“She’ll likely just go to the 64 or the race at Saturday at Hawkesbury, the 1300m Class 1, then she’ll go back into the three-year-old fillies race, the 1400m race (G2 Tea Rose Stakes), then she’ll go to the mile (G1 Flight Stakes),” Smith said.
Matthew Smith’s stable is striking at a very healthy 34.4% from runners this season with 11 wins from 32 runners but admits that will slow down as the racing heats up.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to make a mess of that in the next few weeks, that’ll be gone pretty shortly!”
