Weona Smartone looks to bounce back after failed Sydney trip
A failed trip to Sydney has not dented the confidence of David Vandyke when the trainer takes the talented Weona Smartone to Sunday’s The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton.
The son of Shamexpress returns to Queensland racing in Sunday’s renewal of the $750,000 slot race after his Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes run at Rosehill was over just as it started.
“It was pretty much over at the start,” Vandyke said. “He slipped on his way out of the gates and as he’s an on-pace runner. He was just out of his comfort zone
“He’s not used to being back in the field like that and he tried to charge and Ryan (Maloney) did a good job to just manage him from that point on. It took him a bit over a week to get over it. It was a long trip down but physically he was fine.”
While saluting in nine of his 15 starts, none of those have been further than six furlongs but Vandyke believes an older and more mature Weona Smartone can handle it.
The gelding started to show signs of that when turning in a slashing fourth in last year’s Nature Strip Stakes to Private Eye at the trip and a recent barrier trial has given the Sunshine Coast conditioner plenty of confidence.
“That (Deagon) trial was a good experience for him because he had a bunny in front. He settled quite well for him so I saw some real maturity from him there,” Vandyke said. “The Weona Smartone of old would have to lead most of his races or he would get quite fierce and I liked the way he’s gone in that trial.
“It gives me confidence that if something wants to go quick he can take a sit and just the way he performed in that trial gives me the impression that the 1300 metres may not be beyond him.”
Bookies rate Weona Smartone as a $7 chance to salute in The Archer while he’s at $26 in futures markets for the Stradbroke Handicap.