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By Mark Brassel

Honeysuckle Choice will be out to continue a hot winning run being enjoyed by trainer Todd Smart when she heads to Albury next Friday.

Smart has produced five winners from his last 11 starters and has Honeysuckle Choice flying the flag in either the EBA Hire Benchmark 58 Handicap (900m) or the Gazebo & Shade Centre Class 3 Handicap (1175m).

Honeysuckle Choice (Mathew Cahill) lands the major prize at Moruya. Image by Bradley Photographers

“All our horses are going well; we bought some young ones a few years back and they’re now coming through and starting to bloom,” Smart explained.

“I’ve also got good staff and trackwork riders – that’s the key.”

Honeysuckle Choice has been in sparkling form, leading throughout to score at Moruya (920m) two starts back before a closing third at Bathurst (1100m).

“She was taken on in the lead at Moruya but kicked strongly to win,” Smart said.

The mare then finished powerfully for a close third to Amicus Curiae at Bathurst: “Things were against us at Bathurst.

“The rain started pelting down and the track rating was downgraded to a Soft 6 for the last couple of races.

"She has a comfort zone of between good and a soft 5, if it gets any worse, she just doesn’t fancy it.

“She is a very honest and tough mare. She’s going super and like most mares, once she strikes form, she holds it.”

Another confirmed starter for Albury is evergreen sprinter Byblos Boy who is racing in dashing form for a 12-year-old veteran.

Byblos Boy is prepared at Queanbeyan by Peter Korn who said the gelding “is as bright as I’ve ever seen him”.

Byblos Boy returned from a 14-week spell with an excellent fourth to Deviate over 1000m at Queanbeyan and will be running in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (900m).

“He’s an old marvel; he led at Queanbeyan and they only got him the last 100m,” Korn said. “He was a little underdone and I reckon if I had used an apprentice with a claim, he just about wins.

“He’s a horse that once he is fit, he tends to hold his condition.”

Korn will use apprentice Hannah Williams at Albury who can claim 2kg.

Albury Racing Club’s CEO, Steve Hetherton, said: “The meeting has been moved from Thursday to Friday with Canberra being called off and unfortunately, only essential personnel can attend.

“The track is in fantastic condition and the grass cover is superb for this time of year. We’ve been doing mini renovations including the removal of dead growth.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Grafton, Tamworth
Tuesday: Moruya
Thursday: Muswellbrook
Friday: Albury
Saturday: Grafton
Sunday: Gundagai, Moree