By Neil Evans
He might be based in Sydney, but the provincial circuit is proving a home away from home for Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith.
And he’s looking to add to provincial pickings at Thursday’s Gosford meeting when promising filly Honey Perfume lines up in the final race on a surface slowly drying out after a week of relentless rain.
Racing returns to Gosford on Thursday.Credit: Getty
Still rated a Heavy 10 through Wednesday, clearing and sunny skies in the lead-up should see the track improve to at least a Heavy 8.
And on a day when half the card could be dominated by short-priced favourites across small fields, Honey Perfume boasts the scent of success, and a second win from her last three starts in a moderate Class 1 Handicap over 1200m to close the meeting.
A consistent three-year-old daughter of Toronado, Honey Perfume opened odds-on ahead of her first outing on a likely heavy-rated surface.
But she has been a model of consistency in soft ground over the last month, and looks to have this field at her mercy.
Two starts ago she powered home for a dominant maiden win at Goulburn before missing by a nose behind the promising Shropshire Lad after doing plenty of early work from a wide draw in a deeper Class 1 on Scone Cup day.
That run augurs well for this race where she’s drawn a middle gate, again with Keegan Latham in the saddle.
In fact, only two other runners were quoted in single figures across early markets, and it’s a similar story in a few other races earlier on the program.
Progressive three-year-old, Louisbugh, a son of Zoustar in the Annabel and Rob Archibald yard at Warwick Farm, is primed to open his account second-up in a Super Maiden Hcp over 1200m.
He beat home all but dominant winner Ninette in a smarter maiden at Wyong three weeks back, and accordingly opened a hot $1.55 favourite for this, with the John Thompson-trained mare Rainbow Goddess considered the only serious threat.
And in the race before, tough-as-teak three-year-old Formal might ultimately start the shortest of the lot when he aims for back-to-back wins for Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle in a BM 64 Hcp over 1000m.
Three weeks back at Wyong in heavy ground he jumped to the front from the inside draw and led them a merry dance by more than four lengths.
Having only been out of the placings once from his last six runs, Formal again draws to dictate over the sprint trip in what is a thinner lineup.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
