Mister Smartee Claims Group Two Ahead of Nugget Tilt

Circumstances were against Mister Smartee (NZ) (Always B Miki) but his class shone through in his stellar victory in the  A$125,000 Group Two Four-Year-Old Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate powered over the top of his rivals to add to his stunning record in West Australia from trainer Gary Hall Snr and Gary Hall Jnr.

The four-year-old made it 14 wins from just 17 starts when sweeping past a stellar field to take his career earnings to a massive A$440,211, with the fifth stakes victory of his career.

While clearly too classy for his opposition, Hall Jnr feels Mister Smartee is capable of even better and the reinsman hopes to see just that in the upcoming Group One Golden Nugget (2536m) at Gloucester Park next week.

“Mister Smartee made hard work of it, and he is not quite as sharp at the moment as he has been, mainly because of all the racing he has had recently,” Hall Jnr told Gloucester Park news.

“This was only his 17th start in a race.”

“I think his recent runs have taken the edge off him a little bit, so we’ve now got two weeks to get him ready for the Golden Nugget.”
“We will be trying to get that sparkle back.”

Mister Smartee started at red-hot $1.12 win odds in the Group Two Four-Year-Old Classic.

While punters expected the pacer to dominate the race as he did, there were a few surprises around the way he had to sit in behind the pace, before powering home late.

“Nothing turned out the way I expected, and I had to go to Plan A, B, C, D and E,” Hall Jnr said.

Mister Smartee was purchased for $32,500 by trainer Craig Edmonds when he was offered by breeder-vendors Dancingonmoonlight Ltd at the 2021 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

The pacer set a New Zealand record in just his second career start in New Zealand before being sold to clients of the Gary Hall Snr stable.

Mister Smartee’s sire Always B Miki (USA) will be represented by an outstanding line up of progeny at the 2025 National Yearling Sales at Auckland on February 15 and Christchurch on February 18.

Among the sire’s six yearlings to be offered at Karaka in Lot 103, a half-brother to another NZB Standardbred graduate who has starred in West Australia in the Group One winner Cyclone Jordy (NZ) (Art Major).

Always B Miki (USA) will also be represented by 20 quality lots in the Christchurch sale ring.

Among the stellar draft is Lot 278, a filly closely related to star pacers King Of Swing (NZ) (Rocknroll Hanover) and Bettor Twist (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

Vendor	Dancingonmoonlight Ltd
Purchaser	Mr CD Edmonds
Breeding	Always B Miki - Luna Danza Bay Colt
Sale	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch $32,500
Breeder	Dancingonmoonlight Ltd