Good reign prospects for Weona Smartone
DAVID Vandyke has declared Weona Smartone’s prospects would only be enhanced by the prospect of a wet track as he gave the rising star the green light to tangle with the big guns in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes.
While Vandyke has nominated the galloper who boasts a seven-race winning, streak, for Saturday’s George Moore at Doomben and also an Open Handicap on the Gold Coast on the same day, he is almost certain to resume in the former.
Weona Smartone has won seven from eight but the George Moore will be his most significant test to date with Tony Gollan pair Zoustyle and Baller among the nominations, along with Group 1 winner Alligator Blood.
After bypassing the recent Keith Noud when he was not 100 per cent happy with where Weona Smartone was at, Vandyke says he is almost certain to pull the trigger and resume his gun sprinter in the George Moore.
Southeast Queensland was swamped by Tuesday rain with waterlogged Doomben rated a heavy 10 and more heavy falls predicted in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Vandyke says Weona Smartone’s chances would be improved if the Doomben track was rain-affected on Saturday.
The five-year-old son of Shamexpress romped in on his only start on a heavy track and is unbeaten from two starts on soft tracks.
“He won on a heavy 10 on the Gold Coast by five and a half lengths so wet tracks are no problem at all for him,” Vandyke said.
“I held him back a bit as I thought he needed a bit longer until his next run. We have given him that time and hopefully he can make it eight wins on end. Obviously the George Moore is a very hard race, we are under no illusions and it’s a massive step up from what he has run in previously.
“But he is at that stage now where we have got no choice but to meet the better horses.”
Zoustyle, a brilliant winner when resuming for Gollan after a long break, is the early $2.60 favourite in TAB’s market on the George Moore ahead of acceptances on Wednesday.
Bookies have revealed their hand by having Weona Smartone as a $10 chance, showing they think is he certainly not out of place in the $200,000 sprint.
Vandyke indicated there were no set plans for Weona Smartone for the rest of the summer carnival.