Valley trip is ideal for Biased Witness

The only time Biased Witness ran over 1200 metres he clocked a track record.

After two recent starts at shorter distances, the Robert Smerdon-trained three-year-old is again ready for 1200m which he gets in Saturday’s Art Series Hotel Group Handicap at Moonee Valley.

At his second start in April, Biased Witness ran 1:11.39s to win over 1200m on the synthetic track at Pakenham before running third to Throssell over 1400m at Flemington.

Biased Witness made his spring return at Moonee Valley on October 21 before chasing home the highly regarded Speedeor up the straight at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, both over 1000m.

Speedeor has since come out to score impressively at Ballarat.

“He’s a lovely horse,” Smerdon said of Biased Witness.

“”I think the tempo of the 1200 metres will suit him. He’s got a good cruising speed, runs a strong 1200 and although he’s up in the weights, he’s a big strong horse.

“We want to try and stretch him a bit and the only way to find out is put them to it, so this is part of that plan.”

Craig Williams, who rode Biased Witness at his latest start, rides again on Saturday with the colt listed as the $3.70 favourite.

Williams also rides Smerdon’s other two runners, Very Choosy and Dulverton at the Moonee Valley meeting.

Very Choosy runs in the MSC Signs Handicap and is preparing for a shot at the Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast in January.

Smerdon said she was likely to have two starts in Melbourne before heading north.

“Hopefully we might get her up to the fillies and mares Magic Millions 1300 metre race at the Gold Coast,” Smerdon said.

“She’s quite speedy and whether she stretches to 1300 we have to see, but she might around that track.”

Dulverton is dropping back to restricted grade in the Ranvet Handicap (1600m) after running in stakes company over the spring.

“She likes the track and trip and she’s always competitive at this level,” Smerdon said.

“After this we’ll give her a break and then try and find a black type race somewhere in the autumn for her.”