Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith is hoping Invictus Prince can deliver on the potential he knows is there in Saturdays Doncaster Prelude at Rosehill.
The goal this preparation has been the big Randwick mile but, after the six-year-old pulled a Chautauqua in the Newcastle Newmarket, it has added to Smiths frustration and concern.
Frustrating: Matthew Smith is hoping Invictus Prince will be at his best in the Doncaster PreludeCredit:AAP
“We went thinking he would run well at Newcastle and came away with nothing,” Smith said. “He just stood in the barriers and has been back to trials and did everything right.
“He is a horse that you feel there is a good race in him and when he wins one there are probably two or three.
Advertisement
“We just want to get that out of him.”
Smith has had Invictus Prince for seven runs in Australia with his best being runner-up to Winx in the Winx Stakes in the spring. He was allowed to worked through the field and find the line that day as a $151 chance and Smith believes it is how he races best.
“He needs pressure in his races and is the type of horse that will keep going to through his gears,” Smith said. “We saw that against Winx, when the pressure was on he was very good.
“There looks to be plenty of pace in the race on Saturday and if he gets that he will perform at his peak.
“We have had the Doncaster in mind, missing that run at Newcastle didnt help him but if he could win on Saturday, you would have to back up.”
Smith is hoping that Fierce Impact can also earn a spot, while Grey Lion will also have his first start for the stable in the Doncaster Prelude.
“We have got a lot of horses that are that level where if they take the next step we are going at group 1 races,” Smith said. “Grey Lion will probably need the run but there is a good program of races coming up for a stayer like him.
"You want to have runners at this time of the year but you also want them to performing at their best."
Smith is also looking forward to welcoming Sweet Thomas, a GerRead More – Source
[contf] [contfnew] 
Australian Breaking News Headlines
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
