Wet track to suit Brian Smith-trained Rothera in Tattersall's Cup

BRIAN Smith was feeling the cold yesterday, but every drop of rain that fell had a warming effect on the veteran trainer.

Rothera

BRIAN Smith was feeling the cold yesterday, but every drop of rain that fell had a warming effect on the veteran trainer.

Smith's stayer Rothera is widely regarded as one of the best wet trackers in training and he has continued to firm for the Tattersall's Cup in the past 24 hours as Eagle Farm was softened up by consistent rain.

The seven-year-old is in just his second preparation for Smith, who was able to coax a 2400m win out of him at the end of his last campaign.

A slashing second to Quintessential and then a solid fifth in the Brisbane Cup have him primed for today's Group 3 2200m contest.

"I was disappointed he didn't get closer in the Brisbane Cup," Smith said. "He kept getting carted back through the field and lost his position coming to the turn.

"He was a bit behind early in his campaign, but he's caught up now and he's going great guns."

Smith said he couldn't pinpoint why Rothera is so good in the wet, but the record speaks for itself.

"I don't know what it is. He just seems to handle it when others don't," he said.

"It's not as if he doesn't go on firm ground. The start before he won the 2400m on the wet last preparation he ran home in about 34secs flat.

"If it keeps raining, this will be more like a 2800m race and the ground will make the difference (for us)."

Smith was also giving his other stayer Raeburn a hope, but said the wet ground won't suit.

Local trainer Rob Heathcote fancies his chances of beating in-form South Australian sprinter Conservatorium in the Mercedes-Benz Mile.

Heathcote is happy with his decision to bypass the Tiara and concentrate on the Mile with Fire Up Fifi.