Kembla preview: Matthew Smith is quietly confident his lightly-raced gelding is Ready To Shine

The Matthew Smith-trained Ready To Shine was a second-up winner in his first preparation and can repeat it this campaign when he heads to Kembla.

Ready To Shine looks ideally placed to score another second-up win. Picture: Bradley Photos

Following on from a good first-up run and as a second-up winner, the Matthew Smith-trained Ready To Shine looks well placed to live up to his name.

The lightly-raced gelding kicked off his latest campaign with a nice second behind Metallic Ruler over 1200m at Wyong on April 3.

Ready To Shine steps up slightly in trip when he contests the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m) where he has drawn barrier 1.

“He is going well and was good first-up,” said Smith.

“I wasn’t happy having to scratch him from Wyong on Thursday because he loves a wet track but he just very wide and it’s not easy from out there.

“His work has been good and he presents at Kembla from a nice gate and he should get a lovely run.

Ready To Shine makes it back-to-back wins, as he takes out the last at Scone for the @mcsmithracing stable. pic.twitter.com/TxYs0iPsio

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“Hopefully there has just enough cut in the ground for him and he shouldn’t be far away. This does look a good race for him.

“He is a horse who will definitely keep improving. He’s a round, rollie sort of horse and has come on from that first run and will be better again after this.

“He won second-up last time in which was just his second race start.”

Divine Vicky has been racing well despite only having one placings this preparation.

That was a third behind Gangsta Granny at Canterbury on February 28 and she was just over a length off third place when sixth to the progressive Written In Code on the Kensington after being held up for a few strides early in the straight.

A drop back to provincial grade in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) can see her figure prominently.

“I have been happy with her this campaign until last start. I was disappointed with her run the other day but she did get caught wide,” Smith said.

“She has worked well since then and she is in the right race.

“She has been around the money but it would nice to see her win another race.

“I’m hopeful she will bounce back to her best.

“She has a good record at Kembla as well winning there twice including one at this distance.”

Serene Nic is resuming in the same race but will finds the 1200m too short according to Smith.

It's Opal Fields getting the nose down to win in a photo finish! 📸@JTRacingRwikpic.twitter.com/OwCCHMknNE

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She will be better suited as she steps up in trip through the campaign.

Dubai Warrior wasn’t suited taking an inside run and then trying to come across heels late in the straight but still ran well when fourth behind the barnstorming Empress Of Japan at Goulburn last start.

The lightly-raced son of Pride Of Dubai is the second emergency for the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) after and early scratching and Smith is keen for him to gain a start.

“He probably didn’t get to the outside quick enough the other day. He went up the inside but he is a much better horse in clear running,” he said.

“He needs to get out and get going. He will take the whole straight to get to his top and once there, he’s fine.”

The three-year-old has drawn barrier 9 this weekend which should allow him to make his move when ready and build his momentum out wide.

“I’m very keen to run him if he gets a start,” Smith said.

“I just want to see him get to the outside at the top of the straight and motor home.

“He gives me the impression he will get out to 2000m, no problem.”

Stablemate Zambrero is second-up inn the same race and like Serene Nic, will be better over further.