Scrub Chain may have upcoming Brisbane campaign

By Glenn Davis

Rockhampton trainer Tom Smith could head back to Brisbane with talented sprinter Scrub Chain if the gelding makes a successful comeback at Mackay on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Smith made his first trip to Brisbane as a trainer three years ago when Better Rain finished second in a two-year-old race for QTIS horses behind the Robert Heathcote-trained Billionair Baby.

It was a case of Smith testing the waters to see if Better Rain was up to the higher standard in Brisbane.

Better Rain made a second trip south for the Group 3 Vo Rogue at the end of 2022 and wasn’t disgraced finishing sixth, less than three lengths from the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Fashion Legend who went on to win the Magic Millions Guineas.

Smith, who once dreamt of becoming a pilot, has been training for only five years.

He also sent Acres Away south for the QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast in March last year, where she finished back in the field behind the Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted-trained Party For Two.

Smith will head to Mackay on Tuesday with three starters including Scrub Chain in the Class 6 Handicap.

The four-year-old will have a strong support act from stablemates Dawson Dreamer in the Maiden Plate and fellow first starter Barbarian King in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap.

Scrub Chain - a Cody Collis mount - hasn’t started since finishing sixth in the Townsville Guineas over 1609 metres in August.

A bargain $8,000 buy at the Magic Millions March sales, Scrub Chain won the Rockhampton Guineas in July before being beaten a lip in the Mackay Guineas.

He has returned connections more than $177,000 with five wins and four placings from 16 starts.

“He’s returning at Mackay for the first time since his Guineas preparation,” Smith said.

“He won the Rocky Guineas and had no luck in the Townsville Guineas before beaten a lip in the Mackay Guineas.

“I’ve got no special plans but if he can win first-up I wouldn’t rule out sending him to Brisbane before looking at the local winter carnival.

“He’s a good horse and I rate him as good as Better Rain and Acres Away.”

Smith has given Scrub Chain two barrier trials and is confident he’ll be competitive at Mackay.

“His first trial was a bit ordinary, but he was nice and sharp when he won his second trial at Rocky recently,” he said.

Smith also expects his two stablemates to perform well.

“I think both have very good chances,” he said.

Dawson Dreamer is a half-sister to the Garnett Taylor-trained Dawson Diva who finished second in the 2019 Queensland Oaks which was won by Winning Ways.