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By Ray Hickson

An explosive come from behind win last month has convinced trainer Matthew Smith about what World Alliance’s strengths are and he hopes they can be used to effect at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Matthew Smith (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The gelding kicked off his preparation back in February with a couple of close calls but two frustrating failures sent Smith back to the drawing board and he feels he struck gold when he returned to form at Canterbury off a five week break.

So he sends World Alliance into the Foundation Female Member Handicap (1200m), off just under a month’s freshen, entrusting jockey Jason Collett to replicate his timing.

“He’s one of those horses that has to be ridden a bit quieter,’’ Smith said.

“In the past he’s drawn a couple of good gates and we’ve ridden him handier and he hasn’t gone as well so I think you’ve got to trust the horse has the ability, which he has, and ride him like that.

“He was just fresh the other day, he seems to run well early in his preps then taper off. He did win at Randwick one day at his fifth run but he just seems to be a better fresh horse.”

Collett has won four races on World Alliance, $5.50 with TAB on Friday, from nine rides and the gelding has won twice at 1200m.

While he has been more dynamic over shorter trips, as at Canterbury where he ran down The Black Cloud, Smith said the trip holds no fears.

“He’s been exposed to a couple of 1000m and 1100m races where the tempo has been good so as long as we gets a reasonable tempo we’ll be right,’’ he said.

The Warwick Farm trainer has Astero tackling the Listed $200,000 Precise Air Winter Stakes (1400m) having run third in the Civic Stakes two weeks ago and Smith said with even luck he can hold his form.

He’s confident a win isn’t too far away for Anythink Goes who chased home Winter Stakes favourite Thunderlips at his last start a month ago.

The gelding has had a tickover trial since then and Smith said the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m) is within reach.

“It wouldn’t surprise to see him win that race, he’s going super,’’ he said.

“He just has to produce his last run and he’s fighting the finish out.”

Lightly raced three-year-old Golden Straand holds a nomination for Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting but the inside barrier in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m) may sway him to run at Rosehill.

The Snitzel colt was an easy maiden winner at Gosford at his second start and while Smith said he’s a horse with potential he’s his own worst enemy at the moment and that’s his concern.

“He’s doing plenty wrong and still a long way off working it out,’’ he said.

World Alliance wins at Canterbury on June 9

“We had him entered for next week and thought wherever we draw well we run. I know he has loads of ability he’s just doing things wrong.”

Matthew Smith on Miracle Spin (race 7): “We freshened him up and I’m guessing he needs a run at 2000m off a five or six week break. He hasn’t missed any work but we’re going in on the fresh side to see how he goes.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting