It is shaping-up as a huge year for Benjamin Smith’s class mare In Her Time who will target the Group 1s of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival before coming back in the spring for a The Everest 2018 bid in Sydney.
The five-year-old daughter of Time Thief won the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) first-up at Rosehill before a last start third to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, when ridden poorly from the back, this campaign.
One of the country’s elite sprinters, In Her Time has already amassed over $2.1 million in prize money thanks to a host of other Group 1 placings including her second to Impending in last year’s Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben Racecourse.
Smith again has the riches of the winter in Queensland calling for his stable ace with In Her Time to contest both the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 12 and 2018 Stradbroke Handicap, run this year at Doomben on June 9.
“Obviously we go to Brisbane for two races – Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap – I think the month between runs will suit her,” the Newcastle horseman confirmed to Racing Victoria this week.
She placed fifth to Redzel in last year’s Doomben 10,000 before her Stradbroke second and third behind Tycoon Tara in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1300m), giving her plenty of Queensland race experience to fall back on this season.
The interest is also high from slot-holders regarding a run in the world’s richest race on turf, the $13 million The Everest (1200m), at Royal Randwick on October for In Her Time.
She missed out on a spot in the 12 horse The Everest field for the inaugural running last Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
In Her Time however proved she would have been a competitive force in the weight-for-age feature winning the Listed $500,000 Sydney Stakes (1200m) on the same day, defeating her earlier Stradbroke Handicap conqueror Impending, in a sharp 1:08.26.
That was quicker time than Redzel won The Everest in (1:08.36).
“She’ll have a short break before having one run into The Everest,” Smith said.
“After that she’ll head to Melbourne for the Darley Classic.”
The Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) runs at Flemington Racecourse on November 10 during the iconic Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Futures The Everest betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Gerald Ryan’s impressive young TJ Smith Stakes winner Trapeze Artist as the $4.50 favourite over the reigning champion Redzel ($5).
In Her Time is also listed at single-figure The Everest odds at $9.
All-in Doomben 10,000 betting meanwhile lists the mare at $3.50 just behind Redzel ($2.50), while the Stradbroke Handicap odds have her as the $5 favourite ahead of last year’s winner Impending ($6).
Looking further ahead and Smith has international ambitions for In Her Time with the Hong Kong Sprint in December at Sha Tin on the cards.
“We’ll hopefully jump on a plane and head to Hong Kong for the December sprint race,” he said.
For all the upcoming winter / spring racing odds on In Her Time, head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.