IN THE eyes of his trainer, Robert Smerdon, champion jumper Black And Bent yesterday surpassed the standing of his famous half-brother, Some Are Bent, with yet another dominant hurdle victory at Warrnambool, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Its report says: The now-six-year-old gelding's victory in the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle came a year after Some Are Bent won the $100,000 Tommy Corrigan Hurdle at the course to top $1 million prizemoney. Although yesterday's win took Black And Bent's career ear
IN THE eyes of his trainer, Robert Smerdon, champion jumper Black And Bent yesterday surpassed the standing of his famous half-brother, Some Are Bent, with yet another dominant hurdle victory at Warrnambool, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
Its report says: The now-six-year-old gelding's victory in the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle came a year after Some Are Bent won the $100,000 Tommy Corrigan Hurdle at the course to top $1 million prizemoney. Although yesterday's win took Black And Bent's career earnings to $643,829, Smerdon said he knew which was the better horse after another faultless display. ''I think he's better now,'' Smerdon said. ''He's a better jumper than Some Are Bent; he used to barge through them. This horse is a more deliberate jumper and his flat form is superior.''
Such is his ability on the flat, Smerdon said the gelding's owners would enter him in this year's Melbourne Cup after he contested Sunday week's $200,000 Grand National Hurdle (4000 metres) at Sandown and the $100,000 JJ Houlahan Hurdle (3400m) at the same track on August 28. But overseas jumps races are the more likely destination for Black And Bent, which could race in Japan as early as December.
Black And Bent, the $1.30 favourite, was never challenged after clearing the last yesterday by 4.8 lengths from the Eric Musgrove-trained Famous Prince, while the Robbie Laing-prepared Corries was a further half-length away third.