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By Ray Hickson

Everything about How’s It Kev’s preparation for Sunday’s $150,000 Newhaven Park Central Districts Country Championships (1400m) at Mudgee has gone exactly to trainer Alison Smith’s liking.

Trainer Alison Smith (Pic: Janian McMillan)

It’s a stark contrast to 12 months ago.

Smith threw the gelding in as a late entry for the race and he finished fourth behind Zoo Station then, when the first two home in the Mudgee race were ruled out, gained a late call up to contest the Final at Randwick where he ran a gallant fifth as a $151 chance from the outside barrier.

What happened in 2022 tells Smith that the five-year-old is more than good enough to make it to Royal Randwick again on April 1 but this time on his own merits.

“His prep’s been pretty good, we targeted this race after the Final last year,’’ Smith said.

“He ran really well in the Final and he’s a lot more seasoned going into this race.

“We were pretty stoked considering the horse was supposed to be in the paddock. He had a muscle problem and we weren’t doing a lot of serious work with him going into the Final so we were over the moon with him.”

Smith is based in Orange, she’s a former jockey who used to ride for now two-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Gary Portelli when he was based in the Central Districts and she’s passionate about the Orange club being represented at Royal Randwick.

She’s also keen to see her home town club develop Towac Park into a future Country Championships venue.

How’s It Kev is what you’d describe as a ‘bread and butter’ horse.

“The owner (Craig Buckley) bred him with his dad. His father Brian trained horses for years in Orange, this horse was a foal when he passed away,’’ Smith said.

“He’s a backyard bred horse, not one that’s cost $100,000 to buy to go into the race. It’d be a great story if he’s able to win.”

The gelding has only had three starts since his Country Championships Final appearance in 2022 and Smith said the build up has been ideal.

He was a second-up winner under 60kg a month ago, with apprentice William Stanley riding, then had his final hitout in a 1500m TAB Highway at Rosehill three weeks ago, finishing sixth behind Eastern Glow.

“I thought his run was good. We opted to go to that race because it was 1500m, he has a trip on the float and I thought he’d get more benefit out of that race than the 1300m at Dubbo I had him accepted for,’’ she said.

“He’s pulled up really well, he’s done everything right and drawn a nice gate."

Smith said How's It Kev, $8.50 with TAB on Saturday, has the early speed to take advantage of barrier two and hopes Stanley can hold a forward spot as the speed comes across from wider out.

How's It Kev wins at Orange on January 15

“I think the race is pretty open, a couple of the better chances have drawn wider and are going to have to be used up a bit to find a possie or go forward,'' she said.

“He should be able to jump out and be in the first four or five and hopefully Will gets him into a nice spot.

“After that it’ll be up to the horse and up to William. I’ve got the horse as good as I can get him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Mudgee