Image: Thoroughbred Park.
With 11 contenders already announced ahead of next month’s $2 million The Kosciuszko, there are just three slots left as stables sweat on that all-important phone call from remaining ticket holders.
One trainer waiting by the phone is Canberra’s Todd Smart, who prepares talented three-year-old Love Shuck ($61) that won the $200,000 Listed Inglis 2YO Challenge at Scone in May.
“I think he is a Group-calibre horse and perfect for a race like The Kosciuszko,” Smart told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“It’s probably a long shot because he hasn’t been racing lately, but he will have his first start back on October 2 in the (1100m Benchmark 68 Handicap) Graduation at Warwick Farm, and if he got a ticket, he would be 12 days into The Kosciuszko and ready to fire second-up.”
Smart and connections bought the Mikki Isle gelding out of Oyster Bell for a mere $6,000 from the draft of Bowness Stud at the 2022 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale, and in three starts, he has won twice, advancing his career earnings to $159,525.
After going to the paddock for a good spell, Smart has Love Shuck back in work, and he’s due to trial in two weeks.
The Gundagai product is excited about what this year holds for his galloper.
“He’s come back bigger and stronger after a good spell, and I think he is a very handy horse,” Smart said.
“He’s just got all the ability in the world, and I really think the sky’s the limit.
“Still, if he doesn’t get a ticket, plenty of those three-year-old races are around, and we might even head down the (Flemington) straight with him.
“Either way we go, he is going to be a better horse in the autumn, and who knows, we might be talking about The Kosciuszko again next year when he is a four-year-old.”
It’s an exciting time for the Canberra stable, and while Love Shuck headlines Smart’s growing team, the in-form trainer has some other handy gallopers in the form of Insane Volt, Kelvedon Road, and Gundy Guy.
Insane Volt has won two from his past three starts, scoring a maiden win at Canberra over the 1080m on August 4 before bringing up his second win in a 1000m Class One Handicap at Wagga on August 31.
“He’s another really good horse,” Smart said.
“Our goal with this horse is to get him up to the Magic Millions and race him in the same race (Magic Millions Country Cup) that Joe Cleary’s horse King Gutho ran third in last year.
“His benchmark is on the way up, and I think he is a Magic Millions horse.”
There are some big raps on Gundy Guy, which ran second on debut over 1080m at Canberra on August 18 before heading to the paddock.
Smart is predicting the Capitalist gelding to come into his own next preparation.
“This preparation, he’s gone from a 400m jump-out, to a trial, to one race, and he’s done all that on raw ability,” Smart said.
“He’ll spend six weeks in the paddock, and we’ll bring him back where he will be better suited on the grass; I can’t wait to see what he can do.”
In exciting news for connections, Kelvedon Road is on the path back from injury.
Smart is confident the five-year-old can rediscover the same form that saw him win the Canberra Guineas Prelude and finish second in the Albury Guineas earlier last year.
“He’s had quite a few issues, but he’s due to trial next Friday,” Smart said.
“He had problems with his hind fetlocks and bruising there, and he had a small bleed in trackwork at home, but he’s had 12 months between runs, and I think he can get back to his best, and if he does, he’s the best horse in our stable.”
While Smart waits patiently for a Kosciuszko call for $61 chance Love Shuck, he still has work to do, and the stable will likely start the in-form Loose Love in the 1250m Benchmark 72 Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.
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