By Ray Hickson
Rain won’t dampen trainer Todd Smart’s enthusiasm about in-form galloper Loose Love notching his first city win at start 47 at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The rising seven-year-old has won seven races but remains low in the benchmark ratings and with Australia’s newest Group 1 winning jockey Tom Sherry riding a wave of confidence Smart hopes it translates into a win in the Hawaii Five Oh @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1600m).
Sherry scored his Group 1 breakthrough on Tashi in the Tattersall’s Tiara last weekend and has ridden Loose Love in his past three starts including his Gosford win two weeks ago.
“I’m so happy for him, what a thrill for him. That’s what we all strive for in this game,’’ Smart said.
“The horse is in good form, the rider is in good form so I’m looking forward to it very much.”
Loose Love, $19 with TAB on Tuesday, has won three of his six starts on heavy tracks and the Canberra trainer said he expects a few scratchings to make Sherry’s job a little easier from a wide barrier.
Loose Love wins at Gosford on June 19
The gelding tracked the speed when winning easily at Gosford over the mile and he’d like to see a repeat of that sort of scenario.
“At Warwick Farm when it’s a real wet track sometimes the fence isn’t the place to be,’’ Smart said.
“He’s a versatile horse and Tom Sherry just rides him a treat.
“If you can hold him up and be very kind to him out of the gates he’s more effective ridden like that.
“The 1600m on a wet track is going to be ideal for him, he’s going to be strong through the line regardless of where he is in the run.”
While Loose Love will be having his tenth run for the preparation Smart can see no signs of the horse wanting a break.
“You’ve just got to keep him fresh and well, if he’s kicking and bucking on the walker, which is he is, you know he’s loving life,’’ he said.
“He did a bit of work on Friday and I think he’s trained on again, not saying he’s better but he’s ready to go again.
“He’s had his little quirks along the way but when you’ve got a jockey in form and a horse rising seven and doing what he’s doing I can’t see why he won’t go well.”
Meanwhile, Smart said he’s in a holding pattern with promising three-year-old The Unique Star who hasn’t raced since winning at Warwick Farm on June 4.
It appears likely the gelding, a winner of three from four, will be leaving our shores.
“We’ve got offers from Hong Kong so we’re waiting to see what happens with that,’’ he said.
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting