Ben Smith is happy to have such a leading fancy in a Group 1 race, but he can’t wait until the Tattersall’s Tiara has been run.
The Newcastle trainer, who puts the polish on continually-warming favourite In Her Time, concedes he is not coping too well ahead of the $500,000 Group 1 at Doomben in Brisbane.
“You’d like to admit it doesn’t get to you, but it does play on your mind a bit,” the 35-year-old said.
“You do feel that pressure, that expectation of being favourite.
“The week’s been good but the nerves are starting to kick in a little bit now.”
Ironically, it could be the peak physical condition that In Her Time is in ahead of the 1350m Tiara that is what is making Smith so anxious.
The four-year-old daughter of Time Thief raced to the top of betting boards after the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m), in which she beat home all bar Impending, and has thrived since.
“Generally speaking, the Stradbroke is an excellent lead-up to the Tatts. If you can run well in that, you generally run well in a Tatts,” he said.
“But the thing that gives me the most confidence is how well she’s come through the run. She’s put on weight, she’s eating better and she looks stronger.
“She’s actually improved off the Stradbroke, so it’s very pleasing to see something like that.”
In Her Time travelled wide in the Stradbroke, as she did the start before when fifth in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m), which has Smith confident she can overcome the wide draw on Saturday.
She was allocated barrier 16 but will start from 13 if emergencies don’t gain a start.
“I’d be a lot more nervous if she’d have drawn one to four or one to five,” he said. “She really is just a free-running, free-rolling horse and the more room she has (the better).
“She likes to take her time and have a nice even run at them, she doesn’t like being stop and start and having to try and get out. She can’t sprint off that, but can sprint off a hot tempo and a wide run.
“I think her last five starts she hasn’t drawn inside 10 and all those runs have been very good.”
In Her Time has been easily the best-backed runner in the Tiara since Wednesday’s barrier draw and was into $2.90 early on Friday afternoon.
She headed betting from Dane Ripper Stakes winner Prompt Response ($6.50), with Bonny O’Reilly ($9.50), third behind Prompt Response last start, and Glenlogan Park Stakes winner Eckstein ($10) next in line.
– racing.com
