Daughter of Smart Missile on target for Wagga victory

A tough Canberra mare is set to upstage her more fancied market rivals in the feature sprint at Thursday’s Wagga meeting.

Laurel Hill, a seven-year-old daughter of mudlark and dual group 1 winner Smart Missile, lines up for her 53rd career start in the Ian Reid Open Hcp Sprint over 1200m. Despite being deep into a long campaign and carrying top weight on a likely heavy surface, she’s still a big knockout chance, coming back from some strong races.

Laurel Hill last won in late May when sweeping home to claim a benchmark 72 handicap at Canterbury on a soft 7. Since then, she’s only placed once – finishing hard in the BM90 Mother Gift at Grafton – but her last-start effort in a Saturday BM78 for the fillies and mares over 1400m at Rosehill can’t be understated, finishing just three lengths from the smart Aye Aye Captain.

Trainer Rob Potter has given her 26 days between runs to offset a drop in distance, and her lead-up work has reportedly never been better. He offered a further pointer by scratching the mare from Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting to be saved for Wagga.

In a very open race, Laurel Hill opened about $9 in early betting, well behind resuming Albury six-year-old and favourite Canny Hell at $3.50, while Victorian visitor Brenlyn’s Legacy ($6) was on the early second line.

Canny Hell, which has not started since narrowly missing in the Corowa Cup in early March, is one half of a bold double bid from leading Albury trainer Kym Davison. The gelding by Hellbent tuned up for his return by winning a home trial in heavy going by six lengths, and will take his winning strike rate to better than 25 per cent if he claims the Ian Reid.

Confidence is also high the stable can win again with wet track specialist Desert Opal, which chases a third consecutive success in a BM58 handicap over 1600m. By Rosehill Guineas winner D’argento, Desert Opal is unbeaten from three starts in heavy going, the latest dominant when driving home from midfield at Albury just nine days ago.

He opened about $5.50 in early betting, well behind progressive Wodonga four-year-old and last-start winner Blow On The Dice ($3.20) and Canberra-based Royaltown at about $3.70.