Meet George will launch an early quest for some of the plum winter carnival sprints when the gelding makes his comeback at Eagle Farm.
Trainer Brian Smith has made a deliberate decision to kick-off Meet George’s new campaign early in Saturday’s AAMI Quality (1200m) after the six-year-old missed out on qualifying for last year’s Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
“I tried to get him ready for the Stradbroke last year but he never qualified when he ran fourth in the (Group Three) BRC Sprint,” Smith said.
“He’s on the way up and I’m a lot happier this year with him.
“I’ve got him going earlier this year so we can get him into the better winter races and he’ll be aimed for all the main sprints again.
“I’d just like a wet track for him on Saturday.”
Meet George was unsuccessful in eight starts last winter but produced some strong performances including an unlucky seventh in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) at the Gold Coast in May.
He narrowly missed qualifying for the Stradbroke when fourth to Woorim in the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben and was a close-up sixth to Varenna Miss in the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Woorim again had Meet George’s measure when the pair fought out the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at Caloundra in July.
“Last season he was quite unlucky a few times and he nearly fell in the Prime Minister’s Cup when he was only beaten two lengths,” Smith said.
“I think the incident took a bit out of the sting out of him.”
“It was a good run to finish second in the Glasshouse and overall his form was quite good last year.”
Smith is also hoping for strong performances from stablemates Jasminka (Lyndhurst Stud Quality), General Purple (St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Handicap) and Za Magic in the www.brc.com.au Handicap.
“Jasminka will be ridden by Larry Cassidy this time and she seems to go well for him,” Smith said.
“She can be a cranky thing.”
Jasminka beat only two home on a heavy track for jockey Ric McMahon last start in the Listed Channel Seven Handicap (1200m) at Doomben.
“Za Magic needs another wet track to repeat his last-start win and General Purple is very smart and is coming along well and I expect him to run a lot better.”
