Trish Dunell
Group Three-placegetter Aim Smart is ticking over awaiting better tracks and a possible start on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival.
The four-year-old Smart Missile gelding won decisively first-up for Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan at Ruakaka last month.
“It was lovely to get a good track at Ruakaka for him,” Brennan said. “He needs good ground and we’re just waiting for the weather to change.
“The plan is to go to Hastings on the first day for a rating 72 1600m, provided the track is all right.
“He’s got a massive stride and he needs good ground. He should get 2000m later on.”
Aim Smart was originally trained by Tony Pike and showed promise from the outset, winning a trial then his raceday debut at Pukekohe when beating the subsequent Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Summer Passage, who was also runner-up in the Gr.1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Aim Smart had three other starts last season with the best result being his second behind the swift Prom Queen in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.