Kiwi-Bred Too Smart in Group One Nullarbor

New Zealand-bred gelding Mister Smartee (NZ) (Always B Miki) has entered the millionaires club following his victory in the A$1.25 million Group One The Nullarbor (2536m) at Gloucester Park on ANZAC Day.

The A$500,000 winner’s cheque brought his career earnings to just shy of A$1.1 million, with 16 of his 17 victories coming in Australia for trainer Gary Hall Snr, who was duly rapt with Friday’s result.

“He is an unbelievable horse,” Hall Snr said. “I have got a great crew in that horse, I have got some really good owners.”

Hall Snr, 75, has trained some outstanding equine athletes over his several decades in harness racing, and he rated Friday’s win second only to fellow Kiwi-bred I’m Themightyquinn’s first of two Group One Interdominion Final (2506m) victories at the Perth track 13 years ago.

“He is second to Quinny,” he said.

His son, Gary Hall Jnr, was in the bike, as he has been in all 16 of Mister Smartee’s Australian victories, and the leading reinsman was left in awe of the five-year-old gelding following Friday’s win, his second at Group One level.

“It was probably one of the biggest thrills (of my career),” Hall Jnr said. “Since it (race) got announced I wanted to win it.

“I love this horse. He is a really quirky horse but we have always thought he has been elite-level, and just to see him do that tonight was really special.” 

Mister Smartee was bred by Dancingonmoonlight Limited and he was offered through their 2021 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch where he was purchased by trainer Craig Edmonds for $32,500.

He had two starts in New Zealand as a two-year-old for Edmonds, finishing runner-up at Addington Raceway on debut before returning to the Christchurch track to post his maiden victory.

He was subsequently sold to clients of Hall Snr, and he has proven to be an astute purchase, going on to win a further 16 races, eight of those at Group level, including the Group One 4YO Golden Nugget (2536m) and The Nullarbor.