Now is the time for Later to deliver at Caulfield

Brad Waters - Thursday September 21

Her trainer has seen the promise on the training track but imported mare Now Or Later needs to start delivering on the racetrack in a spring campaign that begins at Caulfield on Saturday.

The time has come for Now Or Later to show her overseas form.

Now Or Later was a Group III winner and Group I-placed in Ireland last year and her work and trials on arrival at Robert Smerdon's Caulfield stable lived up to her overseas reputation but her races did not.

Smerdon sent Now Or Later to Adelaide for her Australian debut where she finished 15th in the Group I Robert Sangster Stakes before she ran a steady fourth at Flemington in May.

Smerdon spelled the daughter of Bushranger and he says the extra time in Australia could produce an improved performance in Saturday's Group III Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.

"It's fair to say that she was really pleasing with her work and jumpouts but her raceday performance fell short of expectations," Smerdon said.

"She went for a break and there is a belief that there is an acclimatisation factor in these imported horses that is undeniable.

"Now she's had a break, albeit not a long break, she has had an opportunity to acclimatise and that might mean a whole new ball game."

While Now Or Later starts her spring preparation in a 1200m contest, Smerdon expects the five-year-old to improve sufficiently with more ground to earn a start in the Group I Myer Classic (1600m) in November.

"There is no doubting her ability," Smerdon said.

"If she gets any cut in the ground, that is just a bonus but 1200m first-up, I'm expecting a respectable run and then she stretches to 1400m and ideally, we're trying to get her to the Myer Classic."

Ryan Maloney will ride Now Or Later in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes and the mare will jump from barrier two.

Sportsbet has Now Or Later at $13 in a competitive market on the race in which the Robbie Laing-trained Missrock and the Sydney mare Ravi share top billing at $5.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.