A carefully considered plan to pull off a Highway Handicap win with Smokeshow has come to fruition for up-and-coming Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib, who has now set her sights on a Kosciuszko call-up.
The mare has only been with Seib this preparation but Saturday’s Randwick race has been on her radar for some time.
“Often plans don’t come off in racing. This was our target for a long time with her, fourth-up in a Highway,” Seib said.
“She has had a couple of setbacks in her career and it’s nice to get her into the stable and get her right, set her up into the Highway system and dare I say it, perhaps she could be a Kosciuszko chance.”
Smokeshow was dropping back to Highway grade after racing competitively in benchmark 72 company and appreciated the class difference to score.
Ridden by leading apprentice Tyler Schiller, Smokeshow ($10) finished hard along the inside once clear to down Crafty Eagle ($4 boombet fav) by a head with Gallant Star ($5.50) another three-quarters of a length away in third.