Todd Harvey has never been shy of praising Misty Metal and he’s brimming with confidence that she can shrug off bad luck and make a winning return at Belmont on Saturday.
The daughter of Oratorio makes a belated return in the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) after a bad foot abscess prevented her from racing since last year’s Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
“She is terrific and has got over that foot issue that we had with her and she is absolutely humming,’ Harvey told Tabradio.
“She looks superb, is nice and fit, looks to be over all those niggly issues and I think she is back to her very best.
“She is absolutely 100 percent and we have been very happy with her work and super pleased with her fitness and condition.
“We are really looking forward to Saturday with her.”
Harvey, who trains Misty Metal with his dad, Rob, said he took a lot of confidence out of the mares’ two trials in preparation for her first-up appearance.
At Belmont she strode out strongly to win a 1000m heat and a week later had plenty in reserve when second to Great Heist over 950m at Lark Hill.
“We gave her a good blowout the first trial and we thought we would get her nice and solid in the second trial,” Harvey said.
“She just went around and had a nice easy time of it.”
A triple stakes winner, Misty Metal holds a top fresh record of one win and three placings from four first-up efforts.
The on-pace sprinter will commence from barrier seven. Shaun McGruddy, who won the Beaufine Stakes on Durendal (2018), takes the mount.
“It’s going to be quite a tactical race,” Harvey said.
“There seems to be a lot of speed in it.
“She is not one dimensional and has to lead, but we will be guided by Shaun’s ride, it will be up to him how he places her in the race.”
Misty Metal has been displaced as favourite after she was propelled to the head of the Beaufine market on Wednesday.
She has eased from $3.10 to $4. Essential Spike has tightened to $3.10 favouritism. Samizdat at $3.50 is the only other runner in single figures.
Julio Santarelli