Australian Racing: Got The Smarts to outwit competitors

There are four meetings set to take place on Thursday, including at Geelong where a nine-race program is scheduled.

Race 6 Geelong

The Western Front @ 2.00

Race 8 Coffs Harbour

Got The Smarts @ 5.50

Race 6 Townsville

Battle Cry @ 3.80

Front for Geelong glory

The sixth race of the day at Geelong is a 1726m Restricted 64 handicap, expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Cotton Tree is likely to have his supporters for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr team, having shown good form as a three-year-old last year.

The gelding followed up a third here on debut with a maiden success over 1700m, when racing on a soft 7 surface at Warrnambool at the start of May.

Cotton Tree registered his best effort in two subsequent Flemington starts when runner-up in a competitive 2000m event in June.

This four-year-old isn’t certain to appreciate the drop back in distance and, with that in mind, he looks opposable in this field.

THE WESTERN FRONT is preferred in this contest, having broken through for his first victory when contesting a 1535m maiden here last month.

The four-year-old came home three lengths clear of his rivals, having been ridden cold in a 1535m maiden held on a good 4 track that day.

This son of War Decree had previously lost out by a narrow margin when contesting a 1400m maiden at Sale in October.

The Western Front shaped as if he would appreciate the extra distance he tackles here, while an inside barrier is a positive in this contest.

Daniel Stackhouse knows the pick well and the pair look capable of completing a double.

Smarts to salute at Coffs Harbour

The finale at Coffs Harbour is an interesting 1200m Class 1 handicap contest.

A soft 6 track is expected for the race with Donna Grisedale’s Meghan arriving here on the back of a maiden success at Ballina early last month.

The five-year-old got home by a narrow margin when racing on a soft 5 track that day, having placed on both previous outings this prep.

A wide barrier isn’t ideal in this contest however, with the lightly-raced GOT THE SMARTS the selection to double her career tally.

The five-year-old showed little in two starts on wet tracks last season, however, she broke through for her first victory when resuming at Coonabarabran in October.

Got The Smarts came home two-and-a-half-lengths clear of her eight rivals when contesting a 900m maiden held on a good 4 track that day.

The daughter of Smart Missile finished strongly, having been ridden with restraint that day and she lost out by a length when second under similar tactics at Grafton subsequently.

Got The Smarts stepped up to 1006m for that Grafton event and she is expected to appreciate the extra distance she gets here with apprentice Siena Grima, on board last time, keeping the ride.

Battle to triumph at Townsville

The sixth race on the Townsville card is a 1400m open handicap event expected to take place on a soft 5 track.

BATTLE CRY registered a couple of good second-place finishes at this venue last prep and he resumed with a narrow victory over 900m at Innisfail in October.

This pick contested a seven-runner open handicap on that occasion, finishing strongly having been ridden colt on a good 3 surface.

While unable to follow up over 1200m here subsequently, the veteran again finished strongly from off the pace when narrowly beaten into second.

The step up in distance here is no issue, while the selection has gone well on soft surfaces in the past, including when winning on a soft 5 surface at Cairns at the start of March.

Ryan Wiggins, on board last time out, is again set to ride and he can partner the son of All Too Hard to victory.