Weather concerns for Smith debutant
Matthew Smith has more than one reason to look forward to the debut of Catmosphere but the weather will determine if it happens on his home track at Warwick Farm.
Smith trained the colt’s mother, stakes winner Combat Kitty and was happy to be able to buy her first foal.
Catmosphere is scheduled to run in an 1100m-handicap for two-year-olds on Wednesday but Smith has also accepted with him in a 900m-race at Muswellbrook a day later.
Warwick Farm was heavy on Tuesday but was not getting the coastal rain other parts of Sydney experienced.
“It’s always good to get the opportunity to train the progeny of a horse you’ve trained and we were able to get him for $140,000,” Smith said.
“He shows ability and looks like a very nice horse.
“The track is a heavy 9 this morning so I’m not sure whether he will run at Warwick Farm or we wait for Muswellbrook.”
Catmosphere has had three barrier trials and won his past two.
Smith has Want To Bolt and Aqua D’ivina making their debuts in the first division of the two-year-old races at Warwick Farm.
“Like Catmosphere they are nice horses but I’ve got no idea if they will handle the wet ground,” Smith said.
The trainer is also looking ahead with Group One placegetter Faraway Town.
The filly is entered for the the Group Three Kembla Grange Classic on Friday and the Group Three Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill the following day.
“I’ll accept at Kembla and Rosehill and see what the fields are like,” Smith said.
“She is in great shape and handles the wet with no problems.”
Faraway Town finished third in last season’s ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes won by Yankee Rose.
At her most recent start she was second to Invincible Gem in the Spring Stakes with the winner a close second to Inference in Saturday’s Randwick Guineas.
“I said at the time of the Spring Stakes I thought we had run into a Group One horse and Invincible Gem proved that on Saturday,” Smith said.
“Faraway Town”s racing pattern is to get back so it would be great to get her in a race with a small field so she can be a bit closer.
No tags for this post.