Smerdon hoping history can repeat
Story By Jason Hickson
Tuesday, 19 February 2008: The in-form galloper has earned his chance at a good race according to Smerdon, having continually stepped up through a long but successful campaign.
The lightly-raced four-year-old has raced eight times this time in and has weighed in at each start, including four wins.
Barwon Express strung three wins together, including the latest when a strong winner over subsequent Hobart Cup winner Offenbach two starts back at Caulfield.
Last start he stepped up to 1800m for the first time and ran a gutsy third, where he crossed from a wide gate and worked throughout before battling home soundly to finish third behind Poised To Win, who has since won the Colac Cup.
The entire gets to 2000m for the first time in tomorrow's tough Listed event but Smerdon is confident the addition of the Norton bit will ensure he runs out the journey.
“The horse is flying,” Smerdon told Racing & Sports. “We've been continually taking him out in distance and he has continued to measure up.
“His last run was very good because he went way too hard from the wide gate and was entitled to drop right out. We've added the Norton bit and I'm sure he'll go kinder, and the senior jockey and a better gate will also help.
“This is a good race for improving horses with a light weight so he fits the bill.”
Tomorrow Damien Oliver takes over where he has 53kg from gate seven.
Smerdon won the race last year with Hoffmeister, who then went on to win the Launceston and Albury Cups.
Barwon Express hasn't been nominated for Tasmania, though, and is coming to the end of his campaign.
“He's been up for a while and we'll probably give him a decent spell soon and look for a good race in the spring.”
Smerdon has a host of runners engaged on the card tomorrow including Message Bank and Bella Princess in the other feature – the Listed Hareeba Stakes.
He also saddles up Miss Kitty Hawk, Da Hussler, Laspiel, Anavalanche, Stagerush and perhaps the most interesting runner Some Are Bent, who will begin a long build-up to the feature jumps races.
Some Are Bent resumed in the same race over 1500m last year and ran on well to finish fifth.
Once over the jumps he was dominant in winning the Galleywood, Houlahan, Lachal, and Grand National Hurdles before the Dominant Macdonald Steeplechase and was later named champion jumper of the season.
Smerdon said he would follow a similar path this time around.
“He's come back well and we've tried to mirror what we did last year,” Smerdon said.
“He came back into the stable on the same day and resumes in the same race.
“His first jumps start will also be the same, in the Galleywood at Warrnambool on April 30.”
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