Robert Smerdon has a strong hand in Saturday's second heat of the Banjo Paterson Series at Flemington with three runners, including Black And Bent who is racing in the best form of his career.Black And Bent has been successfully mixing flat and hurdle racing and has won five of his past six starts.The Black Hawk rising five-year-old is after a hat-trick of flat successes following wins over 2400m at Sandown last month and 3000m at Moonee Valley last Saturday.Three starts back the gelding beat Sa

Robert Smerdon has a strong hand in Saturday's second heat of the Banjo Paterson Series at Flemington with three runners, including Black And Bent who is racing in the best form of his career.

Black And Bent has been successfully mixing flat and hurdle racing and has won five of his past six starts.

The Black Hawk rising five-year-old is after a hat-trick of flat successes following wins over 2400m at Sandown last month and 3000m at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

Three starts back the gelding beat Saturday's rivals Grizz and Desert Master in the Galleywood Hurdle (3200m) at Warrnambool.

"He's improved four or five lengths since last season, which is why he's been so competitive on the flat," Smerdon said.

"He did a great job again last Saturday and has really made the step up this season."

Smerdon has the Australian Hurdle (3400m) at Sandown on June 19 in mind for Black And Bent, who won the Lachal Hurdle (3900m) from Desert Master at Sandown last August before he finished fifth to that horse in the Grand National Hurdle (4530m).

Glen Boss takes over the reins on Black And Bent from Mark Pegus who won on the gelding at Moonee Valley.

Pegus goes on to stablemate Come On Cugat on Saturday.

Owned by Gerry Harvey, Come On Cugat has been placed in two of four runs since being transferred from Chris Waller to Smerdon, including a gallant third to stablemate Persian Star in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) at Flemington where he tried to lead all the way.

Come On Cugat is also heading towards a jumping career and on Monday won a hurdle trial at Hamilton by 15 lengths.

Topweight Light Vision, winner of the Listed Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington for the past two years, will be ridden by Nick Hall.

The 2010 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2500m) will be run at Flemington on July 10.

Last year it was won by the Brian Jenkins-trained Figure Of Speech, who is engaged in Saturday's heat.

The rising nine-year-old will be ridden by Stephen Baster, who was aboard when he scored an upset win at $41 in the Listed Heatherlie Hcp (1700m) at Caulfield last August.

Come On Cugat shares favouritism with the Darren Weir-trained Oak Heart at $5.50, with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Black And Bent at $6.50 and Light Vision at $10, while Figure Of Speech is at $31.