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Trainer Gareth Smith hopes former Sydney sprinter Le Vizir can solve a northern winter carnival dilemma when the gelding chases back-to-back victories in the Class 6 Handicap at Townsville on Tuesday.
Gareth Smith returned to training recently after an eight year absence and was quick to find the winner's stall with his fifth starter when Le Vizir was successful at Townsville's Cluden Park on June 15.
He almost made it a double on the day when stable-mate Laide was a brave second in a 1400 metre maiden.
Le Vizir was heavily backed and came from well back to win an Open Handicap sprint over 1400 metres on June 15.
It was the rising six-year-old's fifth win in 26 starts at only his second Queensland appearance since leaving the Peter and Paul Snowden stable in Sydney.
Smith is confident Le Vizir will again be competitive and will use the Townsville event as a guide to whether he presses on towards a Cups campaign or target the Cleveland Bay Handicap.
"He's currently around a 75 rater and history tells us you need a rating of 80 plus to get into the feature races and he's gone up 6.5kgs on his last run," Smith said.
"I expect he'll be competitive again and he'll get back and let the pace sort itself out.
"My gut feeling is that he may need more distance as they may be too sharp for him in a Cleveland Bay.
"If he shows he's looking for a trip then races like the Mackay and Cairns Cup look good races for him.
"He raced up to 2000 metres as a young horse in the south."
The son of French sire Siyouni was a $260,000 purchase as a yearling at the Magic Millions sales in 2019.
He was originally prepared at Rosehill by Gerald Ryan but was moved on to 'Team Snowden' after winning three times at Wyong, Kembla Grange and Warwick Farm in 2021.
His only success in 16 starts for the Snowdens was at Newcastle in August last year before he was sold and is now raced by the Jorgensen family in North Queensland.
Smith originally hailed from Cloncurry and now prepares a small team of six horses out of Townsville.
Veteran jockey Chris Whiteley has picked up the ride on Le Vizir.
