Matthew Smith is upbeat about the prospects of his emerging sprinter Headwall, who is set to line up as one of the leading hopes in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
After strong Group 1 showings in the Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith Stakes, Smith has been closely monitoring Headwall’s condition and believes the five-year-old has settled in nicely.
“He had a bit of a breeze up this morning on the grass and looked great,” Smith told TABradio. “His condition’s good. He hasn’t lost any weight, which is important. He just seemed nice and bright. He was sharp and he was looking to do something, so that’s always good too.”
“He looks as good as he did in Sydney. I’m really happy.”
Drawn in barrier eight, Headwall will have his first crack at Ascot and only his second go around a left-handed track. He debuted this prep with a strong finish for fourth in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), showing he can handle the turn.
“I had a good look at the track this morning. It’s got a good camber on it around the turn, which does help those horses back in the field. It’s not a particularly long straight, but he does have a good turn of foot,” Smith said.
Smith was especially encouraged by Headwall’s close finish in the TJ Smith Stakes, where he finished less than a length and a half behind winner Overpass.
“It was a really good TJ this year. I think there were eight or nine Group One winners in there. I was surprised to see him still on the bridle at the 200m. That’s unusual in a TJ,” he noted.
“He used to be very difficult to settle, which is why we originally kept him to 1000m. We tried 1200 in Queensland once, but he pulled and didn’t finish off. This time around he’s relaxing and that makes all the difference.”
Smith added, “If he can replicate that TJ Smith run, he’ll be in the mix. He’s travelled well, he’s settled in, and we’re not seeing any red flags.”
With Zac Lloyd aboard, the goal will be to find a midfield spot and avoid conceding too much ground to Overpass, who has drawn barrier 10 and is a $2.40 favourite. Headwall sits at $6.00 in markets, while Western Empire ($8.00) and Front Page ($8.50) are also prominent.
