Victorians plundered three of the five Group One races on Golden Slipper day and trainer Greg Eurell will be out to capitalise on that momentum when he starts Mic Mac at Randwick.The southern raiders were in top form at Rosehill with Crystal Lily winning the Slipper, Littorio outstaying his rivals in The BMW and Typhoon Tracy claiming the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.They again look to have a strong hand in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday with Mic Mac, the Peter Moody-t
Victorians plundered three of the five Group One races on Golden Slipper day and trainer Greg Eurell will be out to capitalise on that momentum when he starts Mic Mac at Randwick.
The southern raiders were in top form at Rosehill with Crystal Lily winning the Slipper, Littorio outstaying his rivals in The BMW and Typhoon Tracy claiming the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
They again look to have a strong hand in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday with Mic Mac, the Peter Moody-trained Wanted and Light Fantastic from the Mick Price stable among the 12 nominations.
Eurell, who is based at Cranbourne outside Melbourne, won the TJ Smith two years ago with outstanding sprinter Apache Cat and he has booked top jockey Hugh Bowman to ride Mic Mac this weekend.
"I've never used him before, this will be the first time, but Hugh is riding in great form," Eurell said.
Mic Mac has not raced since finishing fifth in the weight-for-age Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) won by All Silent in November.
The four-year-old has tuned up for his return with a barrier trial win at his home track and he has a perfect first-up record.
Eurell admitted he was mindful of that when he decided to target the TJ Smith.
"Exactly. It's part of the equation you put together and it has worked before so we hope it does again," Eurell said.
"He's in good shape, there is no shadow of a doubt about that.
"He did his main bit of work (Monday) morning before he heads up (on Wednesday) and it was very pleasing."
Mic Mac has proven his mettle in Sydney winning the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) last autumn.
Eurell has twice stepped him up to 1600m, in the 2009 Randwick Guineas and Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and while he wasn't disgraced in either, Mic Mac will be kept to shorter trips this campaign.
"I think he will ultimately get a mile but probably his best distances at this stage are 1200 and 1400 metres," Eurell said.
The TJ Smith has been a great spectacle in recent years, highlighted by the dominant victory of champion sprinter Takeover Target 12 months ago.
It is again shaping as an outstanding contest on Saturday with Coolmore Classic winner Alverta, glamour mare Hot Danish and comeback galloper Metal Bender among the entries.