Mister Smartee's (NZ) Group One Golden Nugget Triumph

Mister Smartee (NZ) (Always B Miki) declared himself West Australia’s next superstar with his crushing win in the A$200,000 Group One Four-Year-Old Golden Nugget (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The New Zealand bred lived up to his hot favouritism for the lucrative feature when sitting parked and beating a classy field for trainer Gary Hall snr and driver Gary Hall jnr.

In adding the biggest win yet to his outstanding record in West Australia, the Hall camp declared Mister Smartee as good as any pacer they’ve raced since their all-conquering champion, I’m Themightyquinn (NZ) (Washington VC).

That’s impressive praise given the incredible line up of stars the Halls have produced.

“Mister Smartee has a lot of bottom and can also be brilliant as well,” Hall jnr said.

“He is very fast, and at home he can sit and ping home very fast.”

“He has the potential to travel for major events around Australia.”

Mister Smartee was the veteran of just two starts when he headed to join the Halls in Perth.

The pacer has only tasted defeat twice in West Australia, taking his earnings past A$500,000 in the process.

As his winning run built, Mister Smartee has only developed into a more tractable racehorse and more potent force.

“He used to be really revvy and I was worried about him overracing, and being able to settle him won him the race,” Hall jnr said.

Those racing manners proved vital as Mister Smartee sat in the breeze on a muddling tempo before asserting his superiority late.

“Mister Smartee was happy to sit in the breeze and wait for me to tell him when to go,” Hall jnr said.
“I knew we were going slowly but it didn’t worry me.”
“I was rapt in Mister Smartee tonight when the final two quarters were quick, and he felt as though he could’ve run another quarter at the same speed.”

The son of Always B Miki 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.

Edmonds syndicated and developed the pacer before his sale to clients of the Hall stable.

Dancingonmoonlight Ltd will offer a quality draft of blueblood youngsters at the 2025 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch on February 18.

Among the line up is Lot 147, a half-sister to Duchess Megxit (NZ) (Sweet Lou) who brilliantly won the Group One Queen Of Hearts (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The filly is by champion sire Captaintreacherous (USA) from race-winning mare Kensington Kate (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