Rising eight year old Smokin’ Joey is being prepared for another Spring Carnival campaign and is likely to resume in the Group 1 $400,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Smokin’ Joey is being aimed towards the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Smokin’ Joey is back in work with trainer Wez Hunter after having a short break in the Sunshine State following a two run Queensland Winter Carnival campaign.
The seven year old ran an honest race when eighth to Srikandi in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6 then scored a narrow but convincing win in the Listed $175,000 City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on June 13
“He’s been back in work a week and I’m leaning towards running him in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) first-up,” Hunter told racing.com.
“He’s got that residual fitness and fresh legs so we’ll start him off there and then reassess things.”
Smokin’ Joey is a winner over 1600m and hasn’t raced beyond 1800m but Hunter is contemplating stepping him up to a middle distance during the Spring.
“The owner is really keen to try him over a bit further this time around. He’s a brother to Our Smoking Joe who won a Queen Elizabeth (2500m).”
Smokin’ Joey made up ground from the back when fourth to Moriarty in 2014 Group 1 $500,000 TAB Touch – Kingston Town Classic over 1800m at Ascot in Perth while his win over 1600m was during the 2015 Melbourne Autumn Carnival when he beat Jacquinot Bay in the Group 3 $150,000 T S Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 14.
Smokin’ Joey has been a regular Group 1 performer since his two year old days and made it to the Group 1 winner’s circle with a victory in the 2014 $500,000 The Tapestry Wines Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.
He also has two Group 1 minor placings to his credit with a head second to Boban in the $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2013 Melbourne Spring Carnival and a second to Suavito in the $400,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during this year’s Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Smokin’ Joey is just shy of earning $1.4 million in prizemoney for connections from eight wins, seven seconds and a third from fifty-two career starts.
