After a tough last-start win at Launceston’s Ladbrokes Racing Centre Mowbray, seven-year-old Shadow Play mare Ifyoulovemeletmego returns to the same venue on Friday night in search of back-to-back wins.
The mare won at the 10 July meeting, where she was caught three-wide early, pressed on to find the spot outside the leader near the 1500m, before running to the lead at the bell.
Despite being clearly headed in the home straight, she was able to rally back to score by 1.2m win in a mile rate of 1:59.7s at her first start since joining the Geoff Smith stable.
“She doesn’t have much of a sprint, but she can run 30-second quarters all day. She is the same at home. She just keeps going,” Smith said.
The mare has won eight of her 73 starts, including five wins this season, and with her mare’s claim, she will contest a National Rating 45 to 49 event on Friday over 1680m.
“She is back into that class because she is a mare, so with a bit of luck, she might get across the line.
“She has been really good since the win. She is going well and should go all right on Friday,” said the trainer, who has booked Jordan Chibnall for the drive.
Smith purchased the mare for himself and stable clients from Tasmanian owner Lachlan Dakin after she was narrowly beaten at Ballarat in late June.
Smith will begin his night with Horrie Otara in Race 2, where Jordan Chibnall will take the drive from barrier five.
The eight-year-old has finished eighth and sixth at his past two starts.
“We are just going to go forward on him.
“That is the only thing we can do with him. It is no good going back because you can’t win races going backwards,” Smith said.
Letsgobro completes Smith’s three-runner team when in the final race of the night from barrier six for driver Kayleb Williams.
“He has been working well at home, and he went pretty well last time and was held up going up the straight, climbing over the back of them.
“He is back into that 50 grade now, and he should perform well,” said Smith.
The first of eight races is scheduled for 17:09.
