Pride Counting The Days To The TJ Smith
- Sunday, 29 March 2015 07:48
Australia's sprinting heavyweights were upstaged by three-year-old Brazen Beau when they last met in the Newmarket Handicap.
In his absence they are primed for battle in Saturday's TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee was unplaced in the Newmarket and came out of the race with a couple of muscle problems which required treatment.
Terravista, who is equal with Lankan Rupee at the top of the world sprint rankings, was affected by the heat but trainer Joe Pride said that was not a factor in his third.
"That has happened to him before," Pride said.
"He doesn't like humidity and it was pretty warm that day.
"It's not a problem but I would like a nice cool day for the TJ.
"He is in great order and I can't wait for the race."
Rain is predicted in Sydney throughout the week and, if the track is soft, Pride will start Tiger Tees in the $2.5 million race won in 2014 by Lankan Rupee before the emergence of Terravista and Chautauqua.
Last year, Pride was trying to extend Terravista in distance and ran him in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Since then he has been kept to the sprints and earned his world ranking when he beat Chautauqua and Lankan Rupee in the Darley Classic at Flemington in November.
Chautauqua has yet to win a Group One race but his Newmarket second has influenced markets and he is the $2.60 TJ Smith favourite.
Terravista is at $3.50 with Lankan Rupee $6 and Galaxy winner Sweet Idea at $8 and the only other contender under double figures.
Tiger Tees is a half brother to Terravista and won last year's Galaxy on a wet track before finishing fourth in the TJ Smith and third in the All Aged Stakes won by Japanese mare Hana's Goal.
