Supernova contender Tuvalu to kick back into form as his trainer prepares to move

Group 1 trainer Lindsey Smith has $1m The Supernova contender Tuvalu poised to “kick back into form” after sorting out a throat issue.

Tuvalu is poised to bounce back into form. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

Group 1 trainer Lindsey Smith has $1 million The Supernova contender Tuvalu poised to “kick back into form” after sorting out a throat issue.

 Tuvalu was favourite for the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) last start at Caulfield but the Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner raced below expectations but post race an excuse was discovered.

The seven-year-old gelding pulled up with mucus and throat inflammation.

“He got scoped and the inflammation is gone,” Smith said.

“He was inflamed and a lot of mucus (after the race), when you’re in good races you can’t have any hiccups.

“He’ll kick back into form.”

Tuvalu has experienced a similar problems with his throat previously.

“He’s going to have to always be on the medication for this throat from now on,” Smith said.

“He had that when he was in Queensland (spelling) I thought it had gone away, but it has snuck back.

“Working down at the beach every day, the sea spray, might do him some good.”

Lindsey Smith. Photo: Ross Holburt/Getty Images.

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Tuvalu will represent slot-holder Lofty Group in the The Supernova (1400m) on Saturday at Pakenham.

Meanwhile, Smith has started the move his operation from Warrnambool to Barwon Heads.

The West Australian expat has leased boxes from Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien at 13th Beach.

Smith, an 11-time Group 1 winner, is excited about the training resources at O’Brien’s property, including a heavy sand track and the ability to galloper the horses on 13th Beach.

Horses galloping at 13th Beach.Picture: Glenn Ferguson.

“The opportunity was there to help both of us get a bit stronger,” Smith said.

“I’d sort of drifted off into the wilderness a little bit, I’m creative and there’s a lot of tools there to work with.

“I want to do something great again and with all the stuff O’Brien has there it gives me a chance to get back and change things up a bit.”

Smith has trained more than 400 winners from Warrnambool the past six years but costs and the burden of travel, seven-hour round trips to Melbourne, strained the accomplished horseman.

Smith has used heavy sand and beach training in the past.

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“It’s (style of training) what I know, I like to be creative, it’s hard to be creative with one colour,” Smith said.

“O’Brien’s place has got everything you need to train a horse … they have the heavy sand, the grass track obviously, the beach to gallop on.

“So many variations where you can train horses quite differently, paddocks, and the selling point is I’ve only got an hour to get home instead of three and a half to get back to Warrnambool after the last race (in Melbourne).

“It’s not easy, I spend a lot of time on the road when I could be doing something a bit more creative.

“I cut down the staff and the riders were a bit of an issue down in Warrnambool for me, back closer (to Melbourne), hopefully I can build my numbers back up again.”

Originally published as Supernova contender Tuvalu to kick back into form as his trainer prepares to move