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By Graeme White

Unbeaten Smuggler’s Bay will step up slightly in distance at his final start in his initial campaign in the JB Civil Concreting Country Class 2 Plate (1100m) at Bathurst on Tuesday.

Smuggler’s Bay has looked every bit a potential metropolitan winner of the future with all-the-way wins at Wagga on May 6 and Albury on May 24.

The three-year-old came close to breaking the 1000m course record at Wagga clocking 56.3 seconds before winning by one and a half lengths on a slow-rated surface at Albury.

Trainer John Nisbet. Image by Bradley Photographers

Canberra trainer John Nisbet said the conditions of the Class 2 Plate meant Smuggler’s Bay was well-weighted on 57.5kg compared to his other starts.

Smuggler’s Bay has carried 59kg and 60kg in his other victories and this time has less but has to cover an extra 100m.

“You couldn’t get a better race for him so he will have this one then go for a spell,” Nisbet said. “He wanted to rip in and go hard last start at Albury so hopefully he relaxes a bit more this time.

“He is a speed horse so you can’t restrict that, but the plan is to get him to settle a bit more than last start.”

Nisbet’s daughter Kayla will again ride Smuggler’s Bay who has to contend with the promising Tags which won his two starts prior to a spell.

Tags is proven at 1300 and 1400m leading or coming from behind for trainer Gayna Williams and jockey Nick Heywood. The three-year-old hasn’t raced since February 14 and should provide a stiff test for Smuggler’s Bay.

Neither horse will have to contend with Distillate which is likely to be scratched after winning at Rosehill on Saturday.

Nisbet hopes Smuggler’s Bay can live up to expectations: “He has a bit of a boom on him now so hopefully he can keep it up,” he said.

“We are very happy with his progress since Albury. You can’t argue with times and he was very fast at Wagga.”

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Bathurst here