In Her Time pushes towards Darley after unlucky Manikato Stakes
WHEN Newcastle-based trainer Ben Smith talked to us earlier this month he indicated the Group 1 Darley Classic would be on the agenda for In Her Time and that plan hasn’t changed following the Manikato Stakes.
The five-year-old mare finished second behind Hey Doc in the $1 million feature sprint at Moonee Valley on Friday night, but punters were feeling hard done by as Luke Currie aboard Hey Doc crossed in front of In Her Time at the 1000m and caused interference.
Smith was understandably disappointed in the wash up of the Manikato Stakes, but In Her Time returned to the stables in good health.
“She pulled up really well actually,” Smith told Horsebetting.com.au. “She ate most of her food last start.”
It did happen to lose a shoe due to the interference, but In Her Time will get a new shiny new pair instead.
“She did pull a shoe because of that interference, so she’ll get re-shod today,” said Smith, who explained it was jockey Brown who lodged the protest against Hey Doc.
“It was actually Corey who lodged the protest. He said she got squeezed up on the inside and he had to check off heels.
“Luke Currie (jockey of Hey Doc) got 10 meetings for that.”
It was a bittersweet result for Smith, who was expecting a win, but In Her Time will now move to the Darley Classic down the Flemington straight in two weeks time.
“It was a little disappointing not to win, but she ran great,” he said.
“We’ll head to the Darley as planned. She should like Flemington and we’ve always wanted to get her down the straight.”
Smith is having a quiet day on Saturday, with no horses lined up, but he makes the long trip to Tuncurry where he saddles up four runners at the country New South Wales meeting.