Testarhythm will look to make it a hat-trick of wins on Saturday when the Darren Smith-trained sprinter contests a Benchmark 95 Handicap at Rosehill.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Last Thursday's Takeover Target Stakes winner will be out to make it three straight wins on Saturday stepping out to 1400m at Rosehill.
“I've always believed he would run 1400m but every time I've run him over 1400m he's been at the back end of a preparation,” Smith said.
“The horse is going very well at the moment.
“He is in fine form and the way he went in the Takeover Target if he draws the right barrier there is no reason why he can't make it three-in-a-row.”
Testarhythm is enjoying a career best preparation this summer which Smith believes could go on into the early autumn.
“We're not aiming to say we've got the big Group horse, we're probably moreso aiming to have the fit lesser grade horse,” Smith said.
Smith's team on Saturday will also include the sprinting duo of Net Worth and California Storm.
Net Worth resumes after a winter campaign where he'd begun to work through his grades.
The four-year-olds first preparation with Darren Smith culminated with a success in the Provincial Cup at Newcastle last August.
“He gave us a big thrill,” Smith said.
“The owners always thought he had that potential and it was good he came out and showed it.
“He had two trials and then hurt himself so he had a few weeks off and then another trial.
“He just knocked a bit of skin off a couple of his legs in his box at home.
“The main thing is for him this campaign is to just go through his grades.”
After a nail-biting victory at the Gold Coast last Saturday, Whisperossa will likely have his next start at Warwick Farm on January 26 in a Benchmark 85 (1200m).
Not long after that, stable star [/n]Atomic Force[/n] will trial heading into his first race campaign since sustaining a leg injury while under the care of Mick Price in Melbourne last spring.
“Atomic Force is just starting to do a bit of pacework now,” Smith said.
“He is very well, it is probably the best I've seen him. I am very happy with the horse.
“He is still probably about three weeks away from heading to the trials.
“We haven't mapped out a campaign yet. We're just going to let the horse tell us where he is at.”
