WOLVES AT THE DOOR
Trainer confident his mare is ready to win third up
Kembla trainer Ben Smith says he believes Wolves and Arale have the ability to measure up to Saturday grade and they can push their claims when they head to the Randwick-Kensington meeting.
Wolves has turned in eyecatching efforts at her two runs back from a long spell when a closing third to Recap over 1200m at Gosford on December 31 before a ¾ length second to Molly Nails after racing wide at the tail of the field at Canterbury on January 5.
On the strength of those two performances, she lines up as one of the leading contenders in the James Squires Handicap, a Benchmark 64 over 1550m on Wednesday.
“I couldn’t have been happier with her two runs and her sectionals last start reflected that,” Smith said.
“I think she ran one of the fastest last 600m, 400m and 200m of the night at Canterbury. That was pretty good considering there were four 1100m races on the night as well.
“It just shows how well she hit the line.”
James McDonald was aboard Molly Nails when she beat Wolves last start but Smith has been able to secure the services of the champion jockey for the daughter of Wolf Cry this week.
“As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them so we have been fortunate to get James to ride her this week,” he said.
The rain this week hasn’t dented Smith’s confidence as Wolves has shown a liking for wet conditions.
She scored her only win so far on soft ground over 1600m at Kembla back in October 2022 while she has also placed twice from three starts on the heavy.
“Going through her form suggests she can handle it so I don’t think that will bring her undone at all,” he said.
“Her latest two runs have her knocking on the door”.
Smith said he wasn’t surprised the five-year-old was racing as well as she has been after enjoying a long spell.
“When I first started training here, she was up and racing and I only gave her a couple of starts,” Smith said.
“I tipped her out for a nice, long spell to really let her develop and she has comeback in and she would be 80-odd kilos heavier than what she was when I first took her over.
“She is definitely stronger now and that bit more weight behind her is allowing her to finish the race off better.”
Wolves opened a $4.60 second elect with the TAB behind the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Nana’s Wish at $3.60.
In the next race on Wednesday, Smith will saddle up Arale in the Ole Kirk First Yearlings Handicap, a Benchmark 72 over 1400m.
The daughter of Foxwedge is backing up from a fourth behind Tavs at Kembla last Saturday while prior to that, she had excuses when down the track behind Lekvarte in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf at Gosford on December 28
“She just missed a touch of work going into that Gosford run although she was pretty plain,” Smith said.
“In saying that, the track was very hard that day and she didn’t stretch out as well as I’d have liked. She just jarred up a little as well. It’s probably fair to forget that run.”