Smith looking for a forward showing with Sir Rotheway
RACING: His trainer labels him a bit of a handful, but Sir Rotheway has the chance to keep owner’s pockets full at Clifford Park today.
The four-year-old gelding is looking for back-to-back success in the Toowoomba Truck Spares Class 1 Plate (2100m), after breaking through at start number 17 at Ipswich.
The win was a relief for trainer Rochelle Smith, who took over the training of the horse from David Joice earlier this year.
“We haven’t had the horse for a great deal of time. That (Ipswich) was only his sixth run for us,” Smith said.
“I’m happy to finally win a race with him. He won well and he can go on with it.”
Sir Rotheway bounced away from barrier six to take up the running and claim a long overdue victory.
It was the first time throughout his career that he was able to lead throughout a race, and Smith said a forward move would be the plan again today after drawing wide for the 2100m event.
“He’ll go forward. Ryan Plumb has rode him before and he knows the horse,” she said.
“He actually rode the second horse (Cambridge Don) at Ipswich.
“I don’t think the distance will make a lot of difference. It was meant to be over 2200 when we found the race for him.
“He makes my husband work every morning. I tell most of the jockeys that they’ll earn their money when they ride him.
“Ryan actually fell off trying to pull him up at the Gold Coast.
“He’s a bit of a handful, but if he wins they can put up with it.”
Smith will also saddle up Chicoutimi and Countess Natalie in the hopes of breaking their maidens, rating the former as a good hope to get off the mark in the Bundaberg Rum Maiden Plate (1625m).
“She has been really consistent and comes in nicely with three kilos off,” she said.
“She gets a nice draw and I don’t think it’s an overall strong race for a metro maiden. She’ll be right in it.”
Photo: Rob Williams