Racing: Lightweight jockey sought for Scattergun

SYDNEY - Former New Zealand trainer Brian Smith is looking for a lightweight jockey for exciting stayer Scattergun for Saturday's Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick.

Jim Cassidy rode Scattergun to a most creditable second in the Queen's Cup (2400m) on Saturday, but he is riding Our Smoking Joe in the Turnbull Stakes in Melbourne on Saturday.

"I'm looking for a top lightweight rider," Smith said.

Scattergun, owned by New Zealander Peter Mitchell, has been allotted 50.5kg in the Metropolitan.

Smith was thrilled with his horse's run. He was back early, but taken by Cassidy on a long run out wide. The horse looked flat at the 200m but surged again, running winner Exinite to a neck.

"It was a tremendous run after being wide and he fought like a tiger," said Smith, who trained mighty New Zealand galloper Balmerino.

"He's just got so much potential. He's pulled up beautifully too."

While Scattergun is not guaranteed a start in the Metropolitan, Smith thinks he will make the field.

That will give him a two-pronged attack for the race, with his Newcastle Cup winner Bikkie Tin Blues also entered.

Smith was loath to compare them, noting only that resurgent stayer Bikkie Tin Blues had run up a "picket fence" line of wins, with six victories from his past eight runs, while Scattergun was a "stayer of the future".

Bikkie Tin Blues beat Exinite in the Newcastle Cup and Smith was pleased that form was confirmed by Exinite's win on Saturday.

Cassidy said he was committed to going wide at the 800m to get the horse into the race.

"On that run he'll really run a terrific race in the Metrop," he told TVN. "He really stuck to his task in the last furlong."

Scattergun's odds for the Metropolitan firmed into AUS$11 after his run Saturday.

The Donna Logan-trained Ring Of Fire shares AUS$8 favouritism with Fooram and Magic Instinct, while Vanquished, Tawqeet and Activation, who was third in the Queen's Cup, are on the second line at AUS$9, ahead of Bikkie Tin Blues on AUS$10.

In Victoria, the Mike Moroney-trained Sarrera boosted his spring cup chances with a win in the RM Ansett Classic at Mornington.

- NZPA