Written by: Jeff Hanson, 16 May 2023
From humble beginnings, Todd Smart has forged an excellent career as a trainer.
A proud Gundagai boy, Smart spent time in Wagga before settling in the nation’s capital, and he has quickly become one of the more successful trainers in Canberra and the South East, already preparing 85 winners.
In recent years, Smart has enjoyed success with Kelvedon Road and Washington Towers, with his loyal ownership group making a habit of buying at the lower end of the marking but still achieving remarkable success.
Smart’s ability to make astute purchases was in the limelight at Scone on Friday, with Love Shuck winning the $200,000 Listed Inglis 2YO Challenge.
Described as a ‘bargain basement yearling purchase’, 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.
“We went there to buy a horse to win this race, and the plan has always been this race,” Smart said.
“It wasn’t a relief or anything to win, but for everyone in the horse, it was just a special race to win because sometimes you plan these races a long way out, and it doesn’t always work out, but this time it did.
“For me, it’s the biggest moment in my career and the biggest win for our whole team, who have done an excellent job getting this $6,000 yearling to win a $200,000 race.
“Emma Sheargold and Joe McDermott are my two trackwork riders, and they ride for me every morning without fail.
“It’s a big team effort; we click and talk about horses leading into races, and they have to be good to help get these results.
“I’ve got a few people behind the scenes too, and it’s just a real team effort to get results like this.”
Ridden by Tumut product and leading NSW jockey Aaron Bullock, the win was extra special for those back home in the Southern Districts, with the pair growing up less than 30 minutes from each other.
“It’s always good to see a Tumut bloke in Gundagai Tigers colours,” Smart quipped. “In all seriousness, though, Aaron is a good jockey, and he is leading the premiership, and I’ve had him on before, and you can do no wrong having him on board.
“Plus, Marty Hay and David Tout are in this horse, and they know his uncle and family and do talk to Aaron quite a bit, so it made a lot of sense having him on board.”
In a thrilling finishing, the race was almost taken away by stewards.
Bullock got everything out of Love Shuck ($5), which held on by 0.06 of a length from the Kristen Buchanan-trained Chevron (Chad Schofield, $5.50), while in third was the Jason Coyle-trained Lulumon (Kathy O’Hara, $16).
Upon returning to the scales, O’Hara launched a protest, but Racing NSW stewards dismissed it, leaving Smart and connections to revel in their glory.
“There were some nervous moments,” Smart laughed.
“Aaron came straight in and asked how much he shifted in, but he thought the horse was doing enough to the line, and the other one was finished with its run.
“He (Love Shuck) probably could have won a lot easier, but he is still green and half wanted to wait.
Love Shuck will now head for a well-earned spell, with Smart reluctant to push his talented two-year-old too far this preparation, as he believes he will make a better racehorse in his three and four-year-old seasons.
“He’ll go to the paddock in the morning and go for a month, or it could be longer,” Smart said.
“I’ve got to ring the handicapper, and that will determine what races he heads to in the spring.
“Once the penny drops, I think he is going to be a very nice horse, but that is just time and the big thing is, giving him time to mature, and in 6 to 12 months, he will be an even better horse and who knows how good he could be.”
Smart could be chasing more metropolitan success on Saturday, with in-form galloper Loose Love nominated for the 2400m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Smart also has All So Easy set to contest the 1300m Maiden Handicap at Canberra on Friday.