Smart Missile is continuing to demonstrate his natural ability

Anthony Cummings has revealed that Smart Missile is in good order ahead of his scheduled Golden Rose run next month.

The three-year-old colt is the only horse to have beaten Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper winner Sepoy last season.

Smart Missile, who has won both of his two career starts, was controversially scratched from this year’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper after a barrier stall incident.

Cummings is now looking past the unfortunate events of the Golden Slipper and towards the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival.

The trainer says that Smart Missile is continuing to demonstrate his natural ability.

“The most obvious thing is he keeps winning,” Cummings said.

“He’s just got a bit of style and is a very good athlete.

“He stands over a bit of ground (and) he’s just pretty comfortable horse to deal with.”

“(He has) just got a bit of quality.”

Smart Missile’s work leading up to his upcoming Golden Rose start has been very promising.

“I’ve been quite please,” Cummings said.

“It’s been a very much trouble-free preparation.

“His work’s been good as it generally tends to be.

“He pulled up well after his work there yesterday.”

While Smart Missile hasn’t fully matured, Cummings maintains that he is very “sensible” for his age.

“He’s getting there,” he said.

“They don’t fully mature for at probably another 12 or so months yet.

“He’s been pretty good this preparation and we’re just enjoying that.”

Cummings is still observing whether Smart Missile will prove a successful stayer.

“He’s built like a horse that will get over a mile and a quarter but there are some other aspects to his pedigree that say that that may not happen so we’re on a bit of a learning curve to see exactly where he does fit,” he said.

“Hopefully he does run the trip and if he does then he’ll have a much better record next to his name when he’s finished.”

Following the Fastnet Rock’s Golden Rose run, he is likely to run in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 17.

“He’ll go to the Guineas Prelude given we get what we expect from the Golden Rose,” Cummings said.