Harry Bentley has several strong chances on Sunday at Sha Tin, headlined by the progressive Smart Golf who looks to go from strength to strength in the Class Three Parkes Handicap (1,200m).
The Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained four-year-old has made it an impressive three wins from five starts and still has plenty of improvement to come as he develops, according to Bentley.
“He’s getting that little bit more mature, physically and mentally. So hopefully he can just go to that next level,” Bentley said.
“He’s super consistent, even the day he was beaten and he finished third, he ran a good race from a bad barrier. He just seems to be improving with each run.”
The son of Needs Further handled the step up to Class Three company last start with ease after being crunched in betting to start as $1.8 favourite, but Sunday will be his toughest test to date.
“No question, this is definitely his biggest test. Obviously he’s gone up in the weights – 132lb in Class Three is more of a test – but also there’s just so much pace on paper,” Bentley said.
An ideal draw of four and the benefit of Smart Golf’s brilliant gate speed will give Bentley plenty of options.
“He’s normally a horse that we roll forward with and take him to the front. He doesn’t have to do that because he’s obviously won with a lead before, but there looks so much speed so it could be a bit of a pace battle, but he is able to follow something,” Bentley said.
The lightly raced Elite Golf has shown plenty of ability in his three runs so far and will be looking for redemption over Baby Sakura when he seeks his second win in the second section of the Class Four Hart Handicap (1,200m).
While the Frosted galloper used his impressive early speed to find a front-running position from gate 14, his immaturity was on display when hanging throughout the race.
“He’s got loads of ability, you only have to watch his last race to realise that he’s still got a lot of greenness in him. He’s only three years old, so you can forgive him for being a bit of a baby still but he just needs to grow up that little bit more,” Bentley said.
“He has a tendency to run around a little when he is on his own. So, if he can put his best foot forward he has the ability to be very competitive, if not win the race, but he just needs to do a few things right.”
Bentley will be looking to utilise his early speed once again on Sunday when they jump from barrier five.
“He’s got loads of gate speed and he’s able just to jump and get into a handy position, even from a wide draw, because he seems to step away so quickly. He doesn’t have to lead by any means, but it seems silly to not use that to your advantage,” Bentley said.
Bentley will jump back on board Jimmy Ting Koon-ho’s Flash Current in the Class Three Jordan Handicap (1,400m) after enjoying success on the Derryn gelding last season.
“I’ve got a good affiliation with the horse from earlier on in his career. I won on him on his second ever start and he’s actually been running really consistently of late. I’m pleased to get the mount again,” Bentley said.
While a wide draw of 11 is not ideal, Bentley will ride the five-year-old quietly and save him for a late run.
“He’ll probably have to get back like he has been doing. I don’t think he can be ridden too aggressively from a wide gate to get into a handy position, so I guess we’ll just have to ride him with a bit of patience,” Bentley said.
“His second, three starts ago, he was drawn seven and went back and finished really strongly. So, if we can have a similar run to that then I think he’ll run well.”
The Griffins will make their first race day appearance in the Bowring Plate (1,000m) and Bentley will pilot Secret Ingredient after riding him in his most recent trial him at Sha Tin, where he raced handy over the 800m.
“It was the first time I sat on him, he stepped away quickly and travelled really nicely. It’s only a really small field with six runners and we’re all in the same boat, having their first run. I liked what he did, as with all of them he’s going to improve for the run, but he’s got a lot of speed and that’s going to stand him in good stead,” Bentley said.
“I’ll see what David [Hayes] wants me to do, but it would seem to make sense to just let him roll where he’s happy, not force him into any positions. But he should be quick enough to be right up there.”
Bentley’s book of rides is completed by Call To Command, Harry’s Hero and Supreme Feeling.
