Esti Feny is better over 2400m and a current Heavy 8 track might cause him some issues in the $1 million Doomben Cup on Saturday.
That’s not even mentioning superstar Zaaki, Annabel Neasham’s raging $1.50 favourite with Ladbrokes and last Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes winner.
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But trainer Matthew Smith believes his seven-year-old and $61 outsider, who finished sixth in the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup on May 6, can be competitive over the 2000m feature.
“I’m happy with him. He’s had a long time off, so his three runs (this preparation before his last run – a seventh in the Canberra Mile on February 21, 2020) have been good,” Smith told horsebetting.com.au.
“He hasn’t been beaten by far in any of those races. They’ve been small margins.
“He’s had several injuries, but he’s good now. He’s probably better over a mile and a half, to be fair to him.
“But we’ll give him a shot.”
Esti Feny’s other two performances this preparation – ninth in the Bendigo Golden Mile and fifth in the Easter Cup at Caulfield – came on respective Good 4 and 3 tracks.
“It’ll come down to the track rating,” Smith said when asked if his stayer could be competitive against reigning Doomben Cup champion Zaaki.
“Hopefully someone can take on Zaaki. If they keep handing it to him he’ll keep winning.
“He (Zaaki) is a good horse. If you leave a good horse in front on his own that’s what they’re going to do to you.
“A Heavy 8 track might be OK.”
It has been a unique journey for Esti Feny, who Smith first noticed due to his performances in Budapest, Hungary, where he triumphed in both the Group 1 Hungarian Derby and Group 1 Kincsem DIJ in 2018.
“We bought him from over there,” he said, with Ryan Maloney to ride him on Saturday.
“It’s interesting – Budapest to Doomben.
“We sourced him over there. We were looking for horses over there in Europe, and he popped up in a race in Germany.
“We were trying to buy a horse out of that race, and Esti Feny beat it. We thought we’ll leave that one and try to buy Esti Feny, and that was how it turned out.”
Smith will also have $20 winning chance with Australian bookmakers, Festival Dancer, running in the $250,000 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
The three-year-old finished eighth in the $350,000 Guineas at Eagle Farm on April 30, but saluted by 2.5 lengths in the $160,000 Newcastle Jockey Club 3YO Spring Stakes (1600m) on November 13 last year.
“She’s going great, but the gate (12) is a problem. I think she’ll handle a soft-heavy just, but not too heavy,” Smith said, with Ben Thompson to ride the filly.
“I can’t fault her work. Over 2000m she should be OK. But the gate’s an issue.”
Meanwhile, Jason Collett guided three-year-old gelding By Nine to a narrow victory for Smith in a $35,000 Maiden Plate (1800m) at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
“It was good. Jason’s going very well. We’re happy to have Jason whenever we can get him,” Smith said.
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