Smith’s 10,000 draw sweat
THINGS are starting to look up for Newcastle trainer Ben Smith but he’s still a little edgy ahead of the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
Smith’s star mare In Her Time is in good shape for the Group 1 race and has secured a place in the rich The Everest in Sydney in October.
But he’s still nervous. “We’ve had a lot of disappointments in Brisbane,” Smith said as he sweats on today’s barrier draw.
“She (In Her Time) had three starts at the carnival there last year and didn’t draw inside 12 in any of the races.
“This year it’ll be nice if we get a bit more luck with the draw.”
In Her Time finished fifth in the corresponding race last year and followed it up with second place in the Stradbroke and third in the Tatts Tiara. She was considered a good thing beaten in the latter two races.
The five-year-old mare, who arrives in Queensland today, will be ridden by dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown in the $700,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
Saturday’s race is shaping as one of the best renewals in recent memory, with seven individual Group 1 winners confirmed as runners.
In Her Time is $3.50 second elect behind Redzel ($2.50) with Ladbrokes.
Victory Stakes winner Impending ($9) is the other runner under double figures.