Racing: Victory Smile stronger now

SYDNEY - Victory Smile is a stronger horse than when he won the group-one Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick this time last year, says Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan.

That's an ominous sign for his rivals in the A$560,000 ($648,000) Metropolitan today, even though he has 55kg, 3kg more than he carried to victory last year.

"He's as well as he was last year, he is a stronger horse. They say a horse can improve as he gets older, this horse has improved each year as he has got older," Logan said.

Last year, Victory Smile stung bookies after being backed in from $41 to $21.

"I'd love to repeat the win last year. Play it again please," Logan said.

"I'd expect a pretty bold showing on Monday."

Logan said the 7-year-old gelding could race anywhere in the field, but track conditions would determine the riding tactics she decides on with jockey Danny Beasley, who rode the horse in last year's win.

She told NZPA that if the track were the same as on Saturday - good with the jar out of it - Victory Smile would appreciate it.

"He's a big horse, he takes a bit of winding up into a race. I'd like to see him powering home again."

However he performs, he won't be lining up in the Melbourne Cup next month and Logan will be bringing him home after today's race.

Victory Smile's biggest hurdle appears to be revitalised stayer Carnegie Express, trained by former South African David Payne, who tasted his first Australian group-one success with Unearthly in Saturday's Flight Stakes.

He is at 12-1 in early markets for the Metropolitan, with Carnegie Express favourite at 7-2 following his third to Excellerator and Platinum Scissors in the Hill Stakes (1900m) on September 20.

Without a runner is Gai Waterhouse, who has won the 2400m feature six times in a decade.

The John Hawkes-trained duo of Outlaws and Comforts are at 11-2 and 7-1 respectively to give the country's leading trainer his first victory in the race.

Jockey of the moment Corey Brown will ride Comforts.

The Bart Cummings-trained Daneborogh and Dashing Away will now join stablemate My Chanticleer in the Metropolitan, having originally been listed as emergencies.

They claimed their places after the withdrawal on Friday of winner Half Hennessy and VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese.

New Zealand has a four-pronged attack on the race, with Leica Guv ($21), Bodie ($26) and Live By The Sword ($51) also entered.

The Australian debut of Bodie will be watched with interest.

His early spring form hasn't been flash, but the Auckland Cup winner is one of New Zealand's best stayers and The Metropolitan is his only planned start in Australia.

Logan saddled up Jetskiwi in the group-three Craven Plate on Saturday. He was an honest fourth in a race convincingly won by Shower of Roses, who is now a Cox Plate aspirant.

- NZPA