Smashing By Name & By Nature

Smashing (2 f Pins - Ruud Van Slaats, by Van Nistelrooy) emulated her talented dam, in the same Trelawney Stud colours, when scoring an impressive debut win in the 2YO 1000 metres on Dec. 27 at New Plymouth.

A winner on debut over 1150 metres, Ruud Van Slaats went on to win the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) and the Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr. 2, 1600m) in a career of five wins for $340,000 in earnings.

Having displayed a good action and all-round attributes when winning a trial on Dec. 17 over 650 metres at Te Aroha, Smashing began swiftly to assume the lead passing the 800 metres and uncontested she travelled on a nice rein to straighten up with a handy advantage. She quickened when jockey Kelly Myers asked her to focus at the 200m and came clear to win by two lengths.

“She's got some gears and has it all ahead of her,” said Myers. “She just floats across the ground and will make a nice three-year-old.

Backed in to a prohibitive $1.80 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB, Smashing clocked 58.58 for the 1000 metres and in doing so brought plenty of joy to owners Brent Taylor, Faith Taylor, Maureen Davies, Anne Symes and Kath Symes.

“After seeing her trial it was pretty much an extension of that,” said Brent Taylor. “She is still green and has a bit to learn, but no complaints and everything went to plan. You'd expect her to improve for the run and it was good to see her travel away and replicate her trial form."

The win by Smashing brought about the fourth in succession for Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman at New Plymouth, after bagging a hat-trick there on Monday Dec. 23.

“We wanted to get the rail as with the inexperience factor it's gold if you can get to the fence,” said Bridgman. “She got a nice little breather through the mid-section of the race and it just turned into track work after that. She has a nice top of the ground action and has been pretty much push-button since she came to us recently from Darren Weatherley pre trainer.

Amongst plenty of options for Smashing, Bridgman will give consideration to the $100,000 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) on Jan. 18 at Trentham.

While Ruud Van Slaats took her name from the union between soccer star Ruud van Nistelrooy and his wife Leontine Slaats, Smashing gained hers in somewhat less notable fashion after a paddock accident left her rather battered around the face.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz