Smith’s big guns down to trial at Randwick

While many of her contemporaries have reached the elite level as three-year-olds, Faraway Town’s trainer Matthew Smith believes it is only a matter of time before she joins them.

Faraway Town is nominated for the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas on the Gold Coast on January 14.

The Group One-placed filly is set to trial at Randwick on Tuesday as Smith determines his team for Australia’s richest race day.

“We’ll make a decision on whether she runs on the 31st of December, which is most likely, but I’ll wait and see what happens,” Smith said.

Faraway Town finished sixth in the Classic as a two-year-old and was the first horse over the line with all-female owners, earning a $325,000 bonus.

She ran third behind Yankee Rose and Telperion in the Group One ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 2 and chased home subsequent Group One winners Prized Icon and Divine Prophet when fourth in the Champagne Stakes one week later.

“She’s a nice filly,” Smith said.

“She’s going to win a good race sooner or later.

“She’s got the ability, it’s just a matter of things falling into place a little bit.”

After an encouraging first-up third in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes, Faraway Town went to Melbourne where she finished ninth in Listed company on Melbourne Cup Day and fourth in the Group Two Sandown Guineas on November 12.

“In Melbourne things just didn’t go our way but that happens,” Smith said.

“We’ve just got to keep producing her fit and well and I’m sure it’ll fall into place for her.”

Stable newcomer Heart Testa is also down to trial on Tuesday along with Frill Seeking as Smith fine tunes them to travel north.

“I’ll have my three big guns trialling,” Smith said.

Heart Testa, formerly trained by Chris Waller, is yet to make his competitive race debut for Smith who will be aiming to return the seven-year-old to the form which gave him victory in the Group Three Southern Cross Stakes in February last year.

“He’ll most likely go and run on the 31st of December at Eagle Farm or on the same day at Randwick,” Smith said.

Frill Seeking will be at Eagle Farm on New Year’s Eve to run in the Listed Nudgee Handicap (1200m).