Doncaster Mile winner It’s Somewhat will be suited by the step up to the 1600m of the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile at The Valley on Saturday.
It’s Somewhat, above, will appreciate the step up to the 1600m of the Crystal Mile at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
It’s Somewhat was an all the way winner in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile over 1600m at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival and the seven year old will be ready to tackle the mile again following his first up tenth to Santa Ana Lane in the Group 1 $500,000 Keno Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 1.
“He didn’t really enjoy the hectic tempo over 1400m in the Rupert Clarke,” trainer James Cummings said.
“But he still acquitted himself well and should be better off getting up to a mile and with a softer track likely at Moonee Valley, he should be a lot happier.
“That was the run he needed to be ready for this weight-for-age mile race and he has trialled nicely at Cranbourne on a heavy track since his last run which was very encouraging and we’re looking for him to run well here.”
It’s Somewhat was spelled following a mixed campaign during the Queensland Winter Carnival that saw him win the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast before being a well beaten ninth to Sense Of Occasion in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben.
Cummings said that the Crystal Mile had been pencilled into It’s Somewhat’s Spring Carnival campaign for a while and added that the seven year handled the tricky Moonee Valley circuit well at The Breakfast With The Best on Tuesday morning.
“This has been a target race for him for quite a while and I think that it could be a really nice one to pick up,” Cummings said.
“I was really happy with his gallop at Moonee Valley on Tuesday. He’s a horse with a big action, a really bold action and he could have been at risk of not getting around a tight track like this.
“But he has a winning record at the Gold Coast and he handled it well at the Valley on Tuesday.”
It’s Somewhat has drawn the rails with Kerrin McEvoy on board taking over from Hugh Bowman who rides the Chris Waller trained Religify who will jump from barrier three.
Early betting ror the Crystal Mile at Ladbrokes.com.au has It’s Somewhat and Religify sharing favouritism at $5 just head of the Darren Weir trained Burning Front at $5.50.
Also high up in the market order at $6.50 is the Kris Lees trained Sound Proposition and Burning Front’s stablemate Lucky Hussler at $7.
