Trainer Lindsey Smith would like to see the heavens open ahead of the Flemington meeting where he has Bold Bourbon (NZ) (The Bold One) looking for a fourth straight win.
Bold Bourbon runs in the In Memory of Dean Holland (1800m) on Saturday after three consecutive wins at Terang, Warrnambool and Casterton respectively.
But nagging Smith is the presence of last start Mornington winner Convenor and the unbeaten Altivo who is backing up from a win at Flemington last week.
Bold Bourbon won the Casterton Cup (2000m) last Sunday and Smith says Saturday’s contest is a significant rise in grade.
“He’s up and about but he’s about to bump into a couple of very good horses,” Smith said.
“It will either put us back in our box, or it will make us happy, but we’ll learn a bit more about him.
Bold Bourbon won his debut in New Zealand before making his way to Australia and scored at his third start for Smith at the Swan Hill Carnival last June.
It took another eight starts before Bold Bourbon found winning form again at Terang in April after an inglorious performance in early March.
“He had pharyngitis, and he went awful at Ararat,” Smith said.
“His form before that was OK and he looked the winner a couple of times, but just did quite get there, so he might have had that for a little while before that.
“We got him treated and he hasn’t looked back. It just shows you if they’re 100 per cent, they can’t fire.
“We saw those horses had been nominated and we were hoping a heavier track might have been a bit more to our advantage, but it looks like it’s going to be a good track.”
Smith said if he decides conditions are against Bold Bourbon on Saturday morning, the gelding may possibly be seen over 1600m at Sandown on Saturday week.
“At this stage we’ll leave him in, and you never know, those other two may get scared of him and scratch,” Smith joked.
