The barrier draws haven’t been kind but Wagga trainer Todd Smart is looking for a forward showing as Nemo Dat and Zardabba make their debuts at Albury on Tuesday.
Both have been sent to trials at Goulburn and Griffith for their first up test in the Carlton Mid Maiden Plate (1175m).
Both three-year-olds have drawn wide, with Zardabba set to jump from 10 and his stablemate a further three barriers across.
The alleys are a concern for Smart.
“The horses are both going really well and have done everything right but the barriers are a bit of a concern,” Smart said.
“Ideally you don’t want to start horses in their first start from an outside barrier but both are up and coming horses that can go through their grades.”
Zardabba has already shown some bad tendancies at the barrier, refusing to load at a trial at Griffith earlier this month.
Smart is hopeful he will be on his best behaviour and expects him to eventually find his feet over longer trips.
“It’s a good starting point but someone has to draw the bad barriers,” he said.
“I think they are going to be nice horses and hopefully they can run a nice races.
“One is more a staying type and the other is sprinter-miler.”
Smart almost has Art Thou Ready almost ready for a return to the racetrack.
Mapping a way to the Snake Gully Cup, the plan is to return for the Lilly Pilly Cup at Leeton next month.
The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since a seventh in the Nowra Cup in May.
A busy spring continues for the Southern Districts Racing Association with Albury’s meeting hot on the trail of meetings at Wagga and Jerilderie on Saturday.
