She Smashed Them

At her third run back from being freshened, and stepping up in distance, talented filly Smashing (3 f Pins - Ruud Van Slaats, by Van Nistelrooy) delivered a tough win in the 3YO 1400 metres on Easter Saturday, April 4, at Te Aroha.

Sliding across from barrier eight to sit outside the pacemaker and favourite Fully Funded (Fully Fledged), Smashing took over soon after straightening, gained an advantage at the 200m, and worked clear for a comfortable three quarter length win under rider Cameron Lammas.

She ran the 1400 metre trip in a quick time of 1:21.5 and returned healthy dividends: $15.30 & $4.20, on the NZ TAB.

Racing in the same Trelawney colours worn by her dam, Ruud Van Slaats, Smashing is shared in ownership by Brent & Cherry Taylor, Faith Taylor, Maureen Davies, Anne Symes and Kath Symes.

“Right from the start of the season when she broke the 1200-metre record (1:09.33) at Rotorua I thought she had a good race in her somewhere, but she needs to strengthen and fully mature” said Brent Taylor. “She's a filly that requires everything to go her way and at times she's disappointed by over-racing and not being able to finish it off.

“She's still a bit mentally immature, which means she expends energy not doing what she should, but one day when the penny drops - and we didn't run her dam until she was an autumn three-year-old, so this filly has done quite a bit and has a bit of mileage under her belt already and hopefully that will stand her in good stead for next season.

“Her mother (Ruud Van Slaats) was always a very big filly, very strong filly and very laid back, whereas this filly is a bit busier and I think next season we will see a much more robust and settled mare, hopefully. She has got talent and it's just a matter of getting it all sorted,” said Taylor, from Sydney, where Trelawney has a nine horse draft in the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Smashing has now won three of her nine starts and continues to please trainer Jason Brigdman with her progress.

“It was terrific to get the win on a premier day,” said Bridgman. “Stepping to 1400 metres was a bit of an experiment, but I felt she never gave it away when fighting for fourth last start over 1200 metres at Te Rapa and this was a nice opportunity to step her up.

“Racing on speed today played to her strengths, but the key was that she settled beautifully, never looked like pulling and that made the difference in her being strong to the line. I think she will progress like her mother and there will be much more to come from her as an older mare. With further strength I feel she will run a mile out no problem next season and once through to open class we can look at some black type events.

“She will likely be put aside for a good long spell now to strengthen up, and obviously I am delighted for Maureen (Davies) who has some tough times in the family since Christmas and this is a real boost for their morale,” said Bridgman.

Rider Cameron Lammas said: “The leader travelled at a good clip and we were able to click along at her own speed. She was almost off the bit at that pace, nice and relaxed, and picked it up from the 600m. I nursed her all the way in the straight until I asked her and she kicked really well. She probably just peaked over the last bit, but she held on well.

Impressive in a career of five wins for $340,000 in earnings, the dam of Smashing, Ruud Van Slaats, included victories in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m).

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz