The highly talented In The Boat is nearing his racing return ahead of a spring campaign that will lead towards the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse at the back end of 2022.
Trained by Lindsey Smith, the four-year-old gelding has already won seven races from just 11 career starts, including a last-start 2.75-length romp in the Country Discovery (1100m) at Sale on April 15.
The son of Nostradamus was set to start favourite in the 2022 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville following that win, but a hoof abscess put an end to his autumn preparation.
Smith, who originally comes from Perth, now plans to set the front-running sprinter for his home town’s feature Group 1 sprint, which will be run on November 26.
“He’s come back jet black, he’s nice and healthy and that abscess finally came out where he whacked himself up the top,” Smith told Racing.com.
“Towards the end of August will be a race for him.
“It (Winterbottom Stakes Day) can be a hot day and it can be a leader’s bias track at Ascot. It’s gone up to $1.5 million – if he draws a low gate, it sets up good for a horse like him.”
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Now based in Warrnambool, Smith has a strong team headed into the spring, including Triple Missile and the Winter Championship winner Tuvalu.
Triple Missile was dominant when winning the Gold Topaz at Swan Hill at his latest outing, but Smith has long-term plans with that sprinter, so a light spring is on the cards for the son of Smart Missile.
“He’ll just come back for the lower lights,” the trainer said.
“A couple of 1200m around a bend, then he’ll go back out and get ready for the Oakleigh Plate (1100m).”
While Triple Missile is likely to dodge top-level races over the coming months, Tuvalu is a big chance of lining up in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
The talented four-year-old is yet to miss a top two finish in 11 career starts, which sees his prizemoney sit at $419,300.
Tuvalu recorded consecutive victories over the Flemington mile in mid-June and early July, so he’s now enjoying a brief freshen at Smith’s stables, before the Group 1 assault begins.
“He’s having a little break at the stables, just so we can keep monitoring, put a bit of weight on him – he sits under that red light therapy all the time,” Smith said.
“I’m starting to think the Toorak might smell like his race. We’re starting to get a handle of him and his last two wins were good.”
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