Consistent galloper Southerly lived up to a promising recent track gallop with an easy win at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Starting favourite, Southerly ($3.40) scored his fourth win in the Horizon Superannuation Handicap (1800m) but he has collected prize money in 12 of his other 15 starts.
Southerly – Vinnie Colgand
Trainer Brian Smith will now spell Southerly but he believes the gelding will be back next winter racing in top company.
“He just keeps taking a step up every time we ask him. He worked with Kingdoms recently and really tested that horse,” Smith said.
“After that work I thought he might need a bit of fire taken out of him for this 1800-metre race and I started him at Caloundra last week.”
Smith makes no secret of the fact he believes Kingdoms, who won the recent Listed Tatts Mile, can be competitive in the Sydney spring carnival.
Meanwhile, smart two-year-old Jumbo Prince completed the first half of his trainer Michael Nolan’s careful winter plan when he scored an impressive win.
Jumbo Prince ($3.90) raced handy to the pace from his good barrier before coming away to win the Financial Services Handicap (1500m).
Nolan decided to miss the big two-year-old events during the winter after Jumbo Prince won two races at Toowoomba in May.
