Sassy Filly Proves Too Smart

The Informant reports:

Punters who backed Sassy 'N' Smart down to microscopic odds had their anxious moments at Riccarton today, but she was the only horse in it at the business end of the Barneswood Farm Welcome Stakes.

Starting at $1.60 on the strength of an impressive debut win on the track three weeks ago, Sassy 'N' Smart got rid of her barrier blanket when she reared in the starting gates and had to undergo a veterinarian inspection before being cleared to start.

The blanket was discarded when she was reloaded and she jumped cleanly to take up a handy trail fourth in the six-horse field. Once across the junction, Matt Cameron angled Sassy 'N' Smart out into open space and she reeled the leaders in before forging clear to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

What Choux Want stuck to her task bravely to hold second a length ahead of the early leader Dontpokethetiger.

“She's got her quirks but she's all class,” commented Cameron after his second win on the card and the third for red-hot trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

An early summer let-up now awaits the daughter of former classy galloper Smart Missile, with any number of options awaiting her in the New Year.

“She's a very raw talent, she's still got no idea what she's doing,” said Richards. “When the penny drops she could be anything.

“She'll be on the float on Monday straight to Te Akau Stud and then we'll sit down and decide what's next for her. The Wakefield Stakes at Trentham in January and the Matamata Breeders' Stakes back at home are two races that come to mind.”

Sassy 'N' Smart is the first winner by the Todman Stakes winner Smart Missile, yet another sire son of Fastnet Rock, while her second dam is the French Oaks and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Nebraska Tornado. She was selected by David Ellis at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sale earlier this year, costing A$150,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft.