Golden Slipper hopeful Smart Missile is set to have just one run prior to the $3.5 million event, in the Todman Stakes on March 19.
The Breeders Plate winner made his first public appearance since early October when finishing second in a 735m barrier trial at Randwick on Friday.
Trainer Anthony Cummings confirmed after watching the trial that Smart Missile would bypass Saturday week’s Skyline Stakes and rely on the Group Two Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill the following week to book a Slipper berth.
“I was pretty happy with his trial,” Cummings said.
“He won’t run next Saturday but he’ll probably run the week after (in the Todman). He goes there and then it’s two weeks into the Slipper.
“He had a decent blow afterwards today so he’ll be much improved by it and two weeks away (until he races) will be perfect.”
Smart Missile is currently $17 with TAB Sportsbet for the Golden Slipper with unbeaten colt Sepoy the $2.50 favourite.
Cummings is comfortable to go into the Golden Slipper second-up.
“It wasn’t the original plan but he’s pretty adaptable, he’s a good athlete and I don’t think it will worry him,” he said.
Smart Missile was ridden by Tim Clark in Friday’s trial where he finished three lengths off the Gai Waterhouse-trained Piecart, and Clark is in the box seat to partner the colt when he makes his return.
“I’m going to have a chat with the owners but that’s the way it’s headed,” Cummings said.
Smart Missile was set to trial more than a month ago but Cummings was forced to put back the son of Fastnet Rock’s return.
“He had some mucous down his throat and he needed some time to clear that which he’s done,” the trainer said.
“He’s been working up at the farm in the past two weeks and the benefit of that was shown in his trial today.”
At his only race appearance Smart Missile made a big impression, winning the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) by 1-1/2 lengths.
Cummings has declared Smart Missile as his best two-year-old since before the Breeders Plate, but the trainer has no doubts who the main Slipper opposition is.
“There’s probably only one to beat and that’s Sepoy,” he said.
The Peter Snowden-trained Blue Diamond winner has returned to Sydney after his runaway wins in Melbourne and is at Darley’s Agnes Banks property with the Slipper his next main mission.
Another of the Snowden-trained juvenile team won a trial on Friday, with Alverta’s three-quarter sister Aerobatics showing she is over a minor setback which kept her out of last week’s Silver Slipper.
Aerobatics will now resume next weekend in either the Sweet Embrace Stakes or the Black Opal Stakes a day later.
AAP TURF
