BLACK And Bent etched his name into jumps racing history yesterday, notching his ninth consecutive jumps victory when he won the $100,000 Galleywood Hurdle (3200 metres) at Warrnambool.The six-year-old's feat extended Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon's amazing run to four wins from four jumps races in the first two days of the carnival.Black And Bent's victory - his second Galleywood success in three years - ensured he equalled Lots Of Time's Australian record for nine consecutive jumps wins set
BLACK And Bent etched his name into jumps racing history yesterday, notching his ninth consecutive jumps victory when he won the $100,000 Galleywood Hurdle (3200 metres) at Warrnambool.
The six-year-old's feat extended Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon's amazing run to four wins from four jumps races in the first two days of the carnival.
Black And Bent's victory - his second Galleywood success in three years - ensured he equalled Lots Of Time's Australian record for nine consecutive jumps wins set in the late 1960s.
Black And Bent's half-brother, Some Are Bent, who Smerdon also trained, entered the 2007 Hiskens Steeplechase with eight consecutive wins but he failed to claim a record-equalling ninth, finishing third. But when Black And Bent eased down to win by 1╝ lengths yesterday from the Darren Weir-trained Gotta Take Care, Smerdon was smiling. ''A high level of anxiety,'' he said of his pre-race emotions. ''And relief after. He's a standout.''
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