Photo: Racing Photos
Former Kiwi galloper In A Twinkling will put his stakes credentials to the sword once again on Saturday when he lines-up in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m).
The six-year-old gelding has had just the two runs for new trainer Lindsay Smith who believes his new acquisition is nearing peak fitness.
In A Twinkling ran a first-up seventh on a heavy track at Cranbourne last month before backing up the following week when eighth in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m), both times with Craig Newitt in the saddle.
"But I reckon the next one, he will be even better," Smith told RSN.
"The 2500m is a good race for him but on December 18 there's a 2600m Benchmark 100.
"Let's hope he wins the Pakenham Cup and gets out weighted in the Flemington race."
Now a six-year-old, In A Twinkling showed plenty of promise as a younger horse when trained by Te Akau’s Jamie Richards, for whom he had four wins, including back-to-back Gr.3 Counties Cups (2100m).
He also performed at the hightest level, placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m), both at Ellerslie.
Smith is looking forward to the future with In A Twinkling where he hopes to add to his stakes success.
"There's a couple of good races coming up for him," Smith said.
"There's some races in Tasmania, there's maybe the Adelaide Cup, but I think he's a couple of rungs under the good ones here although his two runs for me have been pretty good.
"The 2500m on Saturday, a good gate, he'll roll close to the lead and if no-one wants to lead, he might even lead.
"The jockey has been quite happy with him and it's always good to have the jockey smiling."
In A Twinkling was purchased out of Curraghmore’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $250,000. -NZ Racing Desk
