Astute trainer Brian Smith believes weight is the biggest concern for Hume when the comeback galloper chases his first win in two years at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Smith has “two live chances” in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) with Hume to be joined by stablemate Meet George who returns to Brisbane racing after a failed trip to Grafton for the Ramornie Handicap.
Hume has been working his way back to his peak in three runs after spending 19 months on the sidelines as a result of a tendon injury.
“Everything is a bonus for him,” Smith said.
“We bought him (from Lloyd Williams in early 2009) and he did really well. I’d like to get him back up over ground and win something nice but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Hume finished strongly over 1500m at Eagle Farm on July 9, coming from back in the field for third to Strumming and Zippy Lou in his best performance since returning from injury.
The son of Zabeel is second favourite for the Tattersall’s Mile behind Mystical Grey and will carry topweight of 58kg.
“He has been hitting the line well but he’s going to be carrying more weight on Saturday and when they get up in the weights they don’t sprint as good,” Smith said.
“Weight brings them back to the field. He’s going to get back to midfield or more and they are probably going to sprint home in 34 (seconds for the last 600 metres) so when that happens it makes it harder to get there.
“But he’s very well.”
Smith said he was looking at taking Hume south in the coming months with the Group Three Newcastle Cup (2350m) a likely target in September.
Smith trained Bikkie Tin Blues to win the Newcastle Cup in 2006.
Hume campaigned in Sydney and Melbourne in the spring of 2009, finishing second to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Group Three Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington.
Hume was at $6 with TAB Sportsbet on Friday with Meet George at $10.
“I think I’ve got two live chances,” Smith said.
“Meet George ran second in the Glasshouse two starts back and the track was very hard last start at Grafton.”
Meet George was slowly away and couldn’t make any impression in the straight in the country sprint over 1200m, beating just one runner home.
“He’s pretty much untested at a mile, he may not get it, but he’s had an unlucky carnival and he’s fit and well,” Smith said.
Meet George has raced just once over 1600m, coming in worse than midfield in the Listed Tattersall’s Racing Club Mile at Eagle Farm on June 25.
AAP TURF
