A decision to restrict lightly raced four-year-old World Alliance to genuine sprint trips is paying off for trainer Matthew Smith and connections as he chases a hat-trick at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Matthew Smith (Pic: Bradley Photos)
Smith elected to test the gelding out as far as 1400m over the summer but when he failed to win in three starts he went back to the drawing board and the results speak for themselves.
World Alliance has been a strong winner at 1100m and 1000m in his two winter starts and looks to extend that streak in the TAB Handicap (1100m).
“We just changed what we’ve been doing with him for sure,’’ Smith said.
“I tried to lengthen him a little bit last time in and see if he could get over a trip and he never really relaxed.
“We thought this time in we’d keep him short and see what happens and he’s going super, he’s clearly enjoying the tempo of the shorter races.
“He keeps improving and that’s all you can ask.”
Smith said World Alliance, $3.80 with TAB on Thursday, was quite lean and backwards as a young horse, he went shinsore early on and didn’t make his debut until 13 months ago as a late season three-year-old.
He handled the step back in trip to 1000m and a heavy track with ease at Warwick Farm earlier this month and will carry top weight of 59.5kg as he stays at Benchmark 72 level.
However, Smith said he can see a bit of quality in the opposition so it’s not going to be an easy task. At the same time, he believes World Alliance is well equipped to handle it.
“This is the toughest race we’ve taken on and we’ll find out what he’s about because he’s drawn a good gate and should get a nice run,’’ he said.
“He got back a little bit the other day but he’ll probably be where he’s comfortable, Jason (Collett) is of the view not to send him too many signals early on.
“He’ll find his feet and go from there. It looks like a race that has plenty of speed and he’ll have his chance.
“I think he will measure up, he’s got talent no doubt about that.”
Meanwhile, Smith’s stable star Buenos Noches is a couple of weeks off barrier trialling as he returns for another spring campaign.
The rising five-year-old had a mixed season, his spring started with a win in the Show County and a third in The Shorts to earn him a TAB Everest slot but he didn’t have the best of luck in the $20 million classic.
He then ran second to Imperatriz in the Champions Sprint but went unplaced in five starts through the autumn.
“Nothing really went to plan throughout the prep at all,’’ Smith said.
He wasn’t beaten far in a lot of those races. Hopefully now he’s had a good break we can get him back on track.
“I’m still confident he profiles like a horse that will get over 1400m, I’ll see how he comes back when he trials and how sharp he is.”
– Racing NSW
