News

All a question of timing for Smerdon

18th Jul 2010

The Age - Andrew Eddy - Sunday, 18 July 2010

TRAINER Robert Smerdon again displayed his incredible talent for peaking a horse at exactly the right time when his two-year-old Breitling won a $100,000 bonus for his connections with his victory yesterday in the Inglis Handicap at Caulfield.

Bloodstock agency Inglis offers the bonus for horses sold out of its sales throughout the country and for the third year since 2006, a Smerdon-trained horse won the race.

''I suppose someone has to win them, but yes, it is satisfying when you set them for a race and it all comes off,'' Smerdon said

After Breitling's success brought up yet another winning double for Smerdon following the win of Only He Knows in the opening event, Smerdon yesterday charged into second position on the Melbourne trainers' premiership with just four meetings of the season remaining.

The owners of Breitling won the first prize cheque of $42,700 as well as a further $100,000 bonus to follow in the footsteps of several others of Smerdon's owners.

Connections of Enzed Girl took home an extra $50,000 after her win at Warrnambool in May, where Smerdon won a Mercedes Benz for snaring the trainers' bonus over the three-day carnival.

The Caulfield trainer saddled Follow The Till to win in the Inglis Bonus Handicap in 2006 and last year prepared Tale Of Love to win the same race. Tale Of Love also won a $50,000 bonus for a win at Mornington.

Smerdon said Breitling, who is a Lonhro colt purchased last year for $50,000, had the capabilities of returning his connections several more big cheques in the future.

''If he can't go on to some of the better races, then we're in a bit of trouble with a lot of horses at home because he's got them well covered,'' he said.

Punters were also happy to cheer home Breitling as he firmed from $3.30 to $3 favourite and comfortably beat Soul ($3.50) by 1¾ lengths, with 1¼ lengths to Mr Cool Cat ($26) third.