Trainer Matt Smith saddles up Millie De Lune at Randwick
Trainer Matt Smith could be willing to contemplate a late Queensland winter carnival raid if Millie De Lune can put together back-to-back Royal Randwick victories this Saturday.
Smith has the Group 3 $300,000 Winx Guineas (1600m) in the back of his mind for his progressive daughter of Puissance De Lune as she prepares to tackle the Elite Sand & Soil Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m).
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Millie De Lune has shown an abundance of potential this preparation with two victories in five starts and scored her biggest win to date last time with a dominant win over 2000m on soft ground in town.
'She is going really good and has progressed nicely since that last run,' Smith said.
'We have tried her a couple of times on better ground and she doesn't like it much … she might be a bit better in time but I thought she would make a reasonable nice staying filly and have always thought that.
'She has taken time to come around.'
• EXPERT TIPS: Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday
Saturday's run will determine if Smith puts Millie De Lune over more ground again or drops her back to a mile for the Queensland stakes assignment.
The emerging three-year-old will already be dropping back a furlong from her last-start win when she lines up on Saturday.
'She was really strong late the other day so if we get tempo she will be fine with the drop back in trip but if not, it might be tricky from the barrier (12) as well,' Smith said.
'It's always a concern coming back in trip.'
Ashley Morgan pilots Millie De Lune, which is a $3.70 favourite to continue her winning ways.
Millie De Lune is well fancied at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
• Lipp out to fulfil $40m Lotto winner's spring carnival dream
Smith is also in the hunt for the Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) in which Astero ($34) links up with Andrew Adkins.
But Astero will need to do something he's never done in 13 attempts – win at Randwick.
'I don't know why Randwick doesn't suit him,' Smith said.
'I think at Rosehill, it suits a horse that wants a bit more speed.
'The other day he was pulling behind them and he runs his best races when he is not right up on the bridle that much.
'But he hasn't been beaten that far and his three runs this time have been better than they look.'
Smith also has Time Quest ($101) as the fifth emergency.
Originally published as Trainer Matt Smith chasing back-to-back wins with Millie De Lune at Royal Randwick as stakes test looms
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