Cambridge jumper Smug will be seeking his first prestige jumps scalp when he heads to Trentham on Saturday to contest the Wellington Hurdles (3200m).
The six-year-old Complacent gelding has been in pleasing form over hurdles, placing in his last two starts, including runner-up to Berry The Cash in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m) and third behind the Awapuni jumper and Taika in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m).
Trainer Chris Wood is glad they won’t be met by Berry The Cash on Saturday, but holds plenty of respect for their rivals this weekend, including race favourite Taika.
“He (Smug) has run home well both times,” Wood said. “There is no Berry The Cash this week but at the same time there are a few others that go pretty well. He is in with a nice chance, I just hope he does everything right and gets home safely.
“He is heading down there in good order, he is happy, and he has worked up nice since his last couple of runs.”
Following Saturday, Wood is eyeing a trip south across the Cook Strait for Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing next month.
“Everything going right, we will probably head to the Grand National,” he said. “We will try and fit another race in between times somewhere. Whether we go down there for the two days of the National meeting or just have the one run, we will work on that one.”
Wood heads into the weekend in a Buoyant mood, having recorded a victory earlier in the week at Cambridge’s Synthetic meeting with Alfirston, while stablemates Side Eye and Boxmoss also picked up placings.
“Side Eye went a good race, he only got beaten a nose for second, and I was quite impressed by Boxmoss, he flew home. He looks like a nice staying prospect for the future,” Wood said.
“It was good to win the Garry Edge race (with Alfriston), that was a bit of a thrill.
“It (polytrack) does keep a lot of horses racing. He is a horse that handles it, but it would just be nice if they ran a few more 75 races there.
“He (Alfriston) will probably go back to Cambridge in a couple of weeks now.”
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