LINDSEY Smith believes Riding The Wave could develop into an open grade sprinter after scoring a last-stride victory at Ballarat on Saturday.
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Riding The Wave, in his second start for Smith and ridden by promising apprentice Will Price, defeated Mistake by a short head with Tan Tat Harmony back in third spot in the 1100-metre race.
Saturday's Ballarat Cup meeting carried metropolitan status as there were no races in Melbourne.
Riding The Wave will be now set for the group three $160,000 Standish Handicap over 1200 metres at Flemington on New Year's Day.
Smith has high hopes for Riding The Wave.
"I've got no doubt he'll make the top grade for sprinters," the Warrnambool-based trainer said.
"His first up run for us at Bendigo was good and he had trained on well.
"We learnt a bit about him after the Bendigo effort.
"He's a big striding horse. I'm hopeful he may win another one or two before the Standish.
"I'm confident the big, wide Flemington track will suit his type of racing.
"Riding The Wave is only lightly raced and there's plenty of upside to him.
"The Standish looks an ideal race."
The five-year-old had won four races from 13 starts in New Zealand before he joined Smith's stable.
Riding The Wave's stablemate Corner Pocket won his second race from four starts in taking out a $50,000 race under the lights at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Corner Pocket, with Warrnambool-based jockey Declan Bates on board, beat Harpuna and Night Passage in the 1200-metre race.
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"I've always had a good opinion of Corner Pocket," Smith said.
"I'm sure with a bit of time he's going to turn into an open-class horse."
Meanwhile, reigning Warrnambool Cup winner Too Close The Sun ran second for Smith in the $1 million Railway Stakes at Ascot in Western Australia on Saturday.
Top mare Inspirational Girl took her record to nine wins from 11 starts with her win in the Railway.
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