HOME track advantage means everything to a racehorse trainer, especially when the home track only races once a year.
That’s why Collarenebri trainer Kelly Smith is hopeful he can lead back a winner or two at his hometown cup meeting on Saturday.
Smith saddles up Peak Road in the 1400m B&W Rural Collarenebri Cup, Volcanic Gold in the 800m Collarenebri Business Houses and Tatt’s Hotel-Motel Maiden Plate and Super Rocker for his wife Carol in the 1200m Moree and Walgett Business Houses BM-45 Handicap.
Shayleigh Ingelse, apprenticed to Mick Mulholland at Dubbo, rides Volcanic Road and Peak Road.
Four-kilo claimer Hannah Johnston, a ‘stablemate’ to Ingelse, jumps on board Super Rocker.
Peak Road, winner of the Boolooroo Cup at Moree picnics when trained by Peter Sinclair, was far from disgraced when 150-1 and ninth, beaten four-and-a-half lengths, in the Graysonline Moree Cup on Fathers’ Day.
Smith says the drop in class could deliver him his first hometown cup.
“It was a massive run in the Moree Cup,” Smith said.
“He was a benchmark-50 horse against some high benchmarked runners and was coming back to 1400m from 1700m.
“He raced on the pace and the horses that took him on in front, were the ones that finished behind him.”
Collarenebri trainer Kelly Smith chases a hometown cup win on Saturday (Image Copyright).
Smith said he’ll instruct Ingelse to try the same tactics on Saturday.
“He’s out of barrier six so we’ll keep him out of the dust and try and go forward. Being a bit wide won’t hurt him,” Smith said.
“If something does go erratic out in front, we can sit off them. I’m very happy with the horse, and where he’s at.”
Winning a hometown Collarenebri Cup means everything to Smith. As a jockey, he rode the winner, Lunar Landing, in 1972 – and stayed put.
“I’ve always wanted to win the cup. As a trainer, I’ve run plenty of seconds and thirds – never been out of a place in the race – and rode the winner 52 years ago,” Smith said.
“It’s the only cup winner I ever rode, and ended up staying here.”
Smith also starts stable newcomer Volcanic Gold in the short maiden – and says he’s impressed by the horse’s gentlemanly ways.
“I’ve never had an issue with him and don’t think I’ve ever handled a better horse,” Smith said.
“I’ve got a lot of time for him and I think he can gallop. He’s nice and fresh, and if he jumps and balances up, he’ll be hard to beat.
“He’s a big, gangly-legged horse – like a big kid – and I’m tickled pink with him. I just like the horse.
“He’s very appealing and his nature and attitude is incredible,” Smith said.
Super Rocker rounds out Smith’s trio of hometown runners.
“He can gallop, but there’s been a few little problems,” Smith said.
“Nick Heywood rode him in an 800m race at Gilgandra last start and said the horse wanted further, so we’ll start him over 1200m at home.”
The trainer said rain midweek fell at exactly the right time.
“It will be a good meeting. The track’s good and there was about 15mm of rain during the week,” Smith said.
“Thursday was a good drying day, so the track will be spot-on by race-day and the grounds look immaculate, thanks to the great committee we’ve got.”
Words and Image: Bill Poulos
