Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Brilliant five-year-old Mister Smartee, a comparative inexperienced pacer who has contested only 20 events, is fit and ready to take on millionaire superstars Swayzee, Catch A Wave, Minstrel and Magnificent Storm in the $1.25 million Nullarbor slot race at Gloucester Park next Friday week.
That’s the optimistic opinion of WA’s Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr, who was delighted with Mister Smartee’s effortless victory in the $50,000 Governor’s Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Racing against those seasoned stars poses no problems,” said Hall. “If Mister Smartee draws to lead in the Nullarbor, nothing will beat him. But it might be different if he can’t lead.”
Mister Smartee has carried all before him in a marvellous career of 20 starts for 16 wins, one second and $585,246 in prizemoney.
Mister Smartee has shown that he has the ability to seriously challenge Swayzee (a winner of 30 races and $2,150,893), Catch A Wave (25 wins and $2,149,478), Minstrel (27 wins and $1,447,208) and Magnificent Storm (37 wins and $1,447,208).
Mister Smartee was the $1.20 favourite in Friday night’s Cup when Gary Hall Jnr did not bustle him out from the No. 4 barrier. He settled down in seventh position after the polemarker Otis ($14) was setting the pace from Tricky Miki ($41) and Sangue Reale ($18) in the breeze.
After a smart lead time of 35.9sec. Hall Jnr sent Mister Smartee forward after 500m before the New Zealand-bred gelding surged to the front with 1200m to travel.
After comfortable opening quarters of 30.4sec. and 29.6sec. Mister Smartee gave his rivals little chance by sprinting over the final 400m sections in 27.8sec. and 27.2sec. and winning by two lengths from Otis, with Tricky Miki in third place. Mister Smartee rated 1.54 over the 2130m.
“That was an easy win,” said Hall Snr. “And Junior gave him a good hit-out. I don’t think he is a hundred per cent fit yet, and I’m thinking he might need another start next Friday night before the big race.” The main event next Friday night is the $50,000 Easter Cup. Mister Smartee’s win on Friday night was when he was having his second start after a 15-week absence.
Hall Jnr reported that he was happy with the way Mister Smartee performed, saying: “I wasn’t confident I would be able to get to the top when I did, but the lead time of 36sec. suited him.
“I know that Otis loves that role (leading), and I would have been happy to race in the breeze. But after the fast lead time I thought that if I really put it to Otis he probably would have to let me go. I’m happy with the way Mister Smartee went and how it all panned out.
“He is a different horse this time in. He used to have only two speeds, flat out or off the bit. Now he is more relaxed.”
Magnificent Storm was scratched from Friday night’s Governor’s Cup, suffering from a sore splint in his off-side foreleg.
“He’s good, and the damage is a lot better than I thought,” said trainer Ray Williams. “You have got to be positive, and the Nullarbor is where he is heading. The injury is like a kick in the shin.”