Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted Thursday at 03:03 AM Journalists Share Posted Thursday at 03:03 AM Waltham. (Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au) Trainer Matthew Smith has the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in mind for Waltham following the import’s eye-catching second in last Saturday’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m). Sent out at $51, the gelding stormed home under Reece Jones to finish three lengths off Arapaho, and Smith believes the result could have been even closer with a cleaner run. “He got chopped out in the last 300 metres. It might have been interesting if he didn’t,” Smith told Racing.com. “That should nearly get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup. We’ll see what (rating) they give him and that will determine what we do.” The run came just a week after Waltham was unplaced in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m), but Smith said the conditions made all the difference. “We were expecting a run like that the week before, but the tempo didn’t suit him. They went slow. “He’s a genuine mile-and-a-half, two-miler and with the good speed on Saturday it suited him. “It was a really good ride and he was just a bit unlucky I suppose.” A dual winner in Ireland, Waltham notched his first Australian win three starts back in a Benchmark 85 (2400m) at the Gold Coast and also finished third in the Group 3 St Leger Stakes last spring. “I’ve been really excited about this horse since he arrived,” Smith said. “He’s a good horse.” Horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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