Tiger's Motor Set For Meadows Staying Test

GROUP 1-winning Victorian trainer Geoff Scott-Smith hasn’t wasted any time testing exciting NSW import Motor City Tiger as a stayer.

GROUP 1-winning Victorian trainer Geoff Scott-Smith hasn't wasted any time testing exciting NSW import Motor City Tiger as a stayer.

Coming off two 600s at The Meadows and a barnstorming last-to-first victory in the President's Cup over 680m at last weekend's Warragul St Leger meeting, Motor City Tiger will make his ‘700' debut at The Meadows on Saturday afternoon.

"He pulled up a treat and you wouldn't have known his race was 680m," said Scott-Smith.

"He came off the track and wasn't blowing at all. He seems to be a dog that can naturally do it.

"He might be stepping up a bit quickly but the dog tells you what to do with them.

"With his racing style if you put him over 500m you're just going to crucify him and even over 600m you need speed. They're really 600m sprints in town."

Motor City Tiger is owned and bred by Trent Anderson, who reared Scott-Smith's former superstar Dundee Osprey, a three-time Group 1 winner and runner-up to champion bitch Fanta Bale in the 2017 Sandown Cup.

Motor City Tiger started his career in NSW, ironically under the guidance of master staying conditioner Jason Mackay, and raised eyebrows at his first start at The Gardens when scoring by a gobsmacking 20 lengths in a fast 29.47s.

But after being beaten at his next two starts, the son of provincial record-breaker Buck Fever was transferred to Victoria for a crack at the subsequently cancelled Launching Pad. 

With wins at four of his last six starts for a tally of six from 14 overall, Motor City Tiger is fast emerging as a potential staying star.

"When I saw him win the race at The Gardens I thought ‘my goodness'. He showed all the hallmarks of a good dog," Scott-Smith said.

"After he came down he won a race but pulled up lame and had a couple of months off. As soon as he came back he started running time.

"He came out with them last weekend and was midfield but there was no room for him and he dropped out. He hadn't been there before and when he got to the corner he went a bit wide but once he found the rail down the back he looked pretty comfortable."

 

Motor City Tiger will face a stern examination of his distance credentials on Saturday when he tackles Andrea Dailly's in-form Sunset Bourbski, runner-up in the recent Group 3 Fireball at the same venue, veteran marvel Rajasthan and Sandown Cup finalist Rockstar Beav.

Sportsbetting.com.au have Sunset Bourbski slight favourite at $2.05 ahead of Motor City Tiger at $2.35 while Rockstar Beav is currently $9.

And going into the race, Scott-Smith is hopeful box one will compensate for lack of experience.

"I wouldn't ever say no to it (box one) and he's a dog that looks for the rail," he offered.

"He's definitely capable of winning but I don't know whether he will. 

"You know he's going to have to get past a few and he hasn't got a lot of race experience. 

"He's got the ability but sometimes it can take them three or four runs to work it out and you can't give up on them too early." 

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