22 June 2023 | Jordan Gerrans
Redcliffe trainer Donny Smith is optimistic top mare Uptown Beachgirl is ready to produce what she is capable of ahead of a busy 2023 Constellations Carnival period.
The 62-year-old from the Peninsula has selected an array of black-type races for the 11-time career winner over the coming weeks and will head toward those following the Princess Of The Bay at Redcliffe on Saturday evening.
Uptown Beachgirl was the Group 3 Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale Classic champion in her three-year-old year.
Following on from that black-type triumph, the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance put four victories together in a line between February and May of this year.
Since then, Uptown Beachgirl is yet to win in her last three efforts.
While her most recent appearance was the Group 3 Patron’s Purse against mega star Leap To Fame last week, the veteran trainer says there is a reason for her recent ‘down’ form.
“I was about a month ahead of schedule with her in terms of her training so I had to take that back a little bit and that has shown in her last couple of results, she was not as sharp as she can be,” Smith said when asked her last three runs.
Smith was chatting with champion reinsman Pete McMullen recently about Blacksadance, who is also a progeny of A Rocknroll Dance.
Smith and McMullen agreed that Blacksadance and Uptown Beachgirl were exactly the same – the harder you work them at home, the better they will run on the track.
Blacksadance is of course the track record holder at Albion Park.
“Now with the races coming up with her, we can put the foot to the floor and really work her hard,” Smith said of Uptown Beachgirl.
“She is one of those horses that the harder you work her, the better she goes.
“Because she is such a good doer, she is a big, robust mare and she needs the work, you need to keep at her all the time.
“I think we are back on track.”
Smith has a big winter period planned for his top mare, starting off with the Princess Of The Bay this week, likely to head to the Queen Of Hearts seven days later back in town before looking towards the Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes and the Group 1 Golden Girl.
“It is good that they are catering for the good mares who have gone through their grades,” he said.
With Australia’s premier reinsman Nathan Dawson back in the bike after he missed the assignment last week in the Patron’s Purse, Smith is hopeful Uptown Beachgirl can bounce back to winning ways on her home track this Saturday.
They will commence from eight on the second row.
“I would like to see a bit of speed early,” he said.
“And, then Nathan can work out where he wants to go from there.”
As well as Uptown Beachgirl, the Smith yard will also present with Music Moth and Mach Daddy across Saturday’s program.
Gelding Mach Daddy has not finished better than fifth in his last eight starts.
Smith thinks the son of Mach Three is going much better than the form guide suggests.
“He is the unluckiest horse going around at the moment, he is absolutely flying and he has been for four of five weeks,” he said.
“He just can’t get a draw. He has had no luck.
“He is probably the form horse in my stable but his numbers do not read that way.”
Music Moth has won her last two and will tackle the Redcliffe Oaks Consolation race.
Despite winning her last two – with one of those being in Queensland – Smith says Music Moth is going around for experience and notes she is still very green.
As well as his own runners, Smith will also have his eyes on the Listed Redcliffe Yearling Sales Series 2Y0 Final on Saturday night.
Smith’s brother – Trenton – owns and helps prepare Take A Chance, who is expected to be a contender for the feature event for babies.
Take A Chance has won his last two races and is trained by Trenton’s partner Jan Aitkenhead.
Take A Chance is a $6 chance with the TAB as of Thursday afternoon for the Final with Bettor Cullect for Grant Dixon the public elect.
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