Trainer Matt Smith’s hopes of taking Esti Feny to Queensland for the rich Q22 have been all but dashed by a setback, but he is hoping to at least get the horse’s campaign back up and running at Rosehill.
The Hungarian-bred gelding broke through for his first Australian win in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) last month, sparking hopes of another shot at Saturday week’s Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm where he finished a competitive fourth last year.
But Smith admits that goal is looking unlikely after Esti Feny was struck down by a temperature that interrupted his preparation.
“He had a temperature and then a bad blood,” Smith said.
“That’s where I would have liked to go (Q22), but I don’t know if I can go to the Q22 with the setback.
“There are some nice races here for him if we can get some decent tracks because he doesn’t like the wet, that’s the only problem at this time of year.”
Smith is set to get his wish for dry conditions this weekend when Esti Feny lines up in the Racing And Sports Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill where the track is rated a good 4 with no rain forecast.
Brett Prebble takes the ride after the scratching of his original mount Thalassophile and while Esti Feny will have to contend with a wide draw, he is a backmarker and won the Gosford Cup from an outside gate.
Esti Feny will be one of five Rosehill runners for Smith, who will also be represented in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) by $51 outsider Credit Crunch.
A winner over 2400m at Randwick in December, Credit Crunch wasn’t beaten far in her first three runs back over shorter trips then got too far out of her ground when down the track behind Outlandos over Saturday’s distance last start.
Smith’s Rosehill squad will be rounded out by Mediaro in the Midway Handicap (1400m), new stable addition Royal Robbins in the Schweppes Handicap (1500m) and Festival Dancer in the final race.
