Celestial Smile
The Paul O'Sullivan-trained Celestial Smile (NZ) (Castledale) will tackle the Gr.3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin tonight (10.10pm NZ time).
"It's time to dip our toe into the water with him at that level and this looks like the right race to do it," O'Sullivan said.
"He is fit and in-form, I don't think stepping up to 1,800m will be an issue for him and he gets a light weight."
Celestial Smile, who has won two-from-two this season over a mile, has taken until six to reach his rating of 100 and has never missed a place in 16 career starts.
"I hope he measures up to this level – although looking beyond this I'm not sure how he would fare up any higher, there's a big leap from Group Three handicap to some of those Group Two set weight races," the trainer said.
Celestial Smile was purchased for $22,000 as a yearling at Karaka from the draft of Wayne Larsen's Te Runga Stud.
"It's time to dip our toe into the water with him at that level and this looks like the right race to do it," O'Sullivan said.
"He is fit and in-form, I don't think stepping up to 1,800m will be an issue for him and he gets a light weight."
Celestial Smile, who has won two-from-two this season over a mile, has taken until six to reach his rating of 100 and has never missed a place in 16 career starts.
"I hope he measures up to this level – although looking beyond this I'm not sure how he would fare up any higher, there's a big leap from Group Three handicap to some of those Group Two set weight races," the trainer said.
Celestial Smile was purchased for $22,000 as a yearling at Karaka from the draft of Wayne Larsen's Te Runga Stud.