Trainer Matthew Smith believes Icebreaker can continue his progression through the grades this campaign, even if he doesn’t win first-up at Rosehill.
The four-year-old strung together a hat-trick of victories at Canberra last preparation, all over a mile, and looks to pick up where he left off in Saturday’s Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m).
While mindful Icebreaker will be better suited over slightly further, Smith says the horse is fresh enough to be competitive, particularly on a rain-affected track.
“He has won three in a row down in Canberra and he likes wet tracks,” Smith said.
“He will win in town. I don’t know if Rosehill will be his track because he gets back and runs on, but it’s a nice race to kick him off in.
“There is a mile race at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks later and that will be perfect for him.”
Smith is keen to qualify Icebreaker for either the Big Dance or Little Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day and achieving that will be his main goal this campaign.
“We will try to knock over a race like a Nowra Cup and get him qualified,” he said.
Smith will also have veteran True Marvel in the Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm and says his last start fourth in the Sandown Cup (3200m) suggests he is on track for another strong showing.
“He is a nine-year-old but he’s flying,” Smith said.
“His run the other day was fantastic at Sandown. He ran fourth but he could have easily won, they just went slow.”
“He has an amazing two-mile record. He has run second in a Sydney Cup (in 2023), he’s run third in a Brisbane Cup (2023) and second in a Sandown Cup (2021).”
