Matthew Smith's sprinting duo faces strategic choices
Australia's premier short-course sprinters have numerous engagements this weekend, and Sydney conditioner Matthew Smith is eager to leverage this for his top two 1000-metre contenders.
Headwall is set to attempt a repeat victory in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. Smith, however, favours sending Way To The Stars to Melbourne for the Moir Stakes.
The decision regarding Way To The Stars' entry into the $750,000 Group 1 race at Sandown is contingent upon the track conditions.
After finishing unplaced in the July Sprint (1100m) and Missile Stakes (1200m), Way To The Stars demonstrated his readiness with a win in a 1045m trial at Randwick last Friday. Smith hopes this recent competitive outing will be a significant factor on Saturday.
"We had a plan with him, give him an 11 and 12 (hundred-metre race) get him as fit as we could and send him down there and see what happens," Smith remarked.
"We might catch some of those out first-up, but he'd need to get the right track condition.
"He'll probably go if it's not too wet."
Way To The Stars, a progeny of Reward For Effort, boasts a record of two wins and three placings from ten starts on Soft ground, yet has recorded six of his eight victories on Good tracks.
Sandown's surface was a Soft 7 on Monday morning. While Melbourne is not predicted to receive significant rain this week, there remains a possibility of showers each day from Tuesday until the race meeting.
Sydney is expected to enjoy clear skies all week. Smith is enthusiastic about Headwall's return to competition, his first since defeating Lady Shenandoah in the $1 million Concorde Stakes last year, which has been elevated to Group 2 status for the current running.
The veteran seven-year-old incurred a pastern injury soon after his last win, necessitating a spell during the spring. However, he has undergone a lengthy preparation for his comeback and showed promise in two trials throughout August.
"It's going to be a really good race, but he's going as good as what he was last year going into the race and he's been in work for a while, he's fit and well," Smith assured.
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