“If I could find a way to bottle the feeling I got on Saturday, I’d be marketing it all over the world,” said Todd Smart after So Magnificent’s win in the TAB Highway. The trainer had two reasons to smile. It was his first Highway success after several placings but more importantly his first training win at historic Randwick, a location for which he formed a deep attachment during a lengthy stint with John O’Shea some years ago.
As So Magnificent hit the line on Saturday, Todd was acutely aware of the good fortune that had brought the horse into his life in the first place. The trainer first heard of the stallion in a conversation with long time friend Ash Richards, founder and owner of Victorian company Intel Bloodstock. Richards informed Todd that the So You Think colt had been passed in by owner-breeder James Ch’ng at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, when he fell $50,000 short of his $300,000 reserve. When Perth based Ch’ng elected to retain the yearling, it was Ash Richards who thoroughly recommended Todd Smart as a likely trainer.
Todd doubles as strapper for most of his runners. He was thrilled to make it 4 wins from 5 starts when So Magnificent won the TAB Highway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
“We talk several times a week on the phone, but to date I haven’t met James personally,” said Todd. “Right from the outset he’s trusted my judgement and has waited patiently for the horse to overcome some maturity problems. Thanks to the Sky Racing service he’s been able to watch all of So Magnificent’s five runs to date which has happily included four wins on the trot. It was a thrill to be given a So You Think colt to train, especially one from a pretty strong female side. His dam Spanner Head was stakes placed and won three races at Flemington, while his granddam Classic Chevron was a ten time winner in Western Australia.”
Such was So Magnificent’s lack of maturity that Todd didn’t even contemplate sending him to the Canberra trials until this time last year. He failed to beat a runner home in a pretty slick open heat, but improved marginally to beat a few home in a similar trial two weeks later. He went ahead in leaps and bounds after that second trial and was quietly fancied by his trainer in a Wagga maiden on November 1st last year. “Although there were only eight runners he covered a fair bit of ground and was still very raw,” Todd recalled. “He did well to finish third, and you’ve got no idea how he came on in the next couple of weeks.”
Three weeks later So Magnificent came from well back to win a 1400m maiden at Canberra with Billy Owen on board, after which Todd opted for a “freshen up”. It was almost three months before the colt returned with an easy trial win at Canberra after which his trainer plotted a relatively easy path forward. Always prepared to travel for the right races Todd pinpointed an 1100m BM58 at Bathurst and a Cl 2 at Orange for So Magnificent’s next two outings. The colt won both races impressively with Brodie Loy in the saddle and was suddenly looking like a genuine TAB Highway horse. Todd Smart’s astute judgement was vindicated when the stallion stepped out for Saturday’s Highway. He hadn’t raced for more than five months and hadn’t been sighted at the trials.
So Magnificent wins his maiden at Canberra 24/11/2024. Billy Owen was the jockey - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Billy Owen took full advantage of the inside gate and quickly had So Magnificent into the box seat behind Saratoga Power, Zumbo and Lightning Speed. Via Vegas and Cambar were handy at the 600m with favourite Highway Strip way off the course and Nimble Star midfield on the fence. Owen took full advantage of a tantalising rails run on top of the rise which put So Magnificent more than a length in front. Zumbo tried valiantly to bridge the gap over the last hundred metres but was being safely held on the line. Nimble Star signalled a possible future Highway win by finishing off resolutely to grab third place.
Billy Owen didn't go around a horse in winning the Highway on So Magnificent - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Todd’s delight in snaring his first TAB Highway and winning his first race on Randwick’s hallowed turf, was matched only by the realisation that he’d shared the magic moment with long time mate Billy Owen. “We’re both Gundagai boys and go back a hell of a long time,” said the trainer. “I can remember Billy Owen sitting on poddy calves when he was seven years old. He could ride anything as a kid and it’s been no surprise to me that he’s turned out to be a very capable jockey. He’s a favourite with many trainers in the southern districts.”
Billy Owen wasn’t the only kid in Gundagai who’d jump on anything with four legs. Todd was riding a pony at an early age, and before long was spending time after school at the stables of trainer David Blundell, a noted horseman and excellent tutor. Todd showed plenty of talent in the campdrafting arena before suddenly taking a liking to the bull riding pursuit. Through this era he successfully completed a welding apprenticeship much to the delight of his parents. By late teens Todd’s natural talents in the bull riding business prompted him to try his luck in Canada where the sport is high profile and offers attractive prize money incentives. His dreams were shattered when a nasty accident left him with a seriously injured shoulder. He had no option but to return to Australia for urgent surgery, before contemplating his future.
Billy Owen and Todd Smart have been mates since childhood days in Gundagai - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Driven by an ever increasing desire to train racehorses, young Smart resolved to set out to learn as much as he could from the best possible teachers. He enjoyed every minute of his three years with John O’Shea at Randwick, during which time he got to ride regular trackwork. Then came six rewarding years with the now retired Colin Little at Caulfield. By the time he’d completed another three years at Lloyd Williams’ famous Macedon Lodge training operation, the young horseman felt good and ready to embark on a solo career. He launched that career from stables at Wagga but quickly became disillusioned when opportunities failed to materialise.
A chance conversation with good friend Canberra trainer Luke Pepper would change the landscape for the frustrated Smart. Pepper advised him of the availability of boxes at Thoroughbred Park and convinced him that a change of venue may well improve his chances of attracting new owners. Luke’s assessment couldn’t have been more accurate. More than 120 winners have followed from his Canberra base along with a loyal group of owners. “It’s pretty trying for a few months during winter, but for most of the year you couldn’t get a nicer environment for training horses,” said Todd. “We’ve got a heated swimming pool, any number of walkers, a terrific polytrack, a good slow work circuit and an inside tan track. Well away from the course proper we have the use of a warm-up sand track where we can trot and canter before doing our main work. I wouldn’t want to train anywhere else.”
The trainer hasn’t yet had his hands on a topline galloper but a succession of handy horses have kept the home fires burning. One of his favourites was Washington Towers with whom he won eight races including one at Warwick Farm. The genuine gelding also finished second in a Wagga Town Plate, and ran fourth in a Randwick TAB Highway. Tobermory paid his way with six wins and eight placings, while the John O’Shea “hand-me-down” Attainment recorded seven wins and posted a whopping twenty one placings. Kelvedon Road won five races for the stable on southern districts tracks while Love Shuck’s six wins included the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge at Scone with Aaron Bullock up in 2023. Todd struck again in the same race this year with Cashbook ridden by Adam Hyeronimus.
Smart rarely has more than fifteen horses in work at any one time, all of which enjoy the use of spacious yards during the day. Apart from four time winner So Magnificent, the stable has also won races of late with I Show Speed, Loose Love, Straight Fire, In The Nic Of Time and The Unique Star whose three wins included a midweeker at Warwick Farm. Todd was disappointed recently to lose The Unique Star to the voracious Hong Kong market, a fate currently befalling many Australian trainers.
There’s one other member of the fifteen horse team Todd can hardly wait to produce. “Mr. Magnificence is an unraced four year old owned by my great mate and longtime client Brian Hall,” said the ever patient trainer. “He’s had issue after issue including a fetlock chip and a stress fracture of one knee. We’ve had to stop and start many times, but we’ve just about got him right at last. He’ll trial at Goulburn on September 12th and should be at the races soon after. He’s showing plenty of promise.”
Todd was happy to chat with Greg Radley on Sky Thoroughbred Central after Saturday’s win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
In the meantime, Todd is hoping for slot holder interest in So Magnificent for the upcoming Kosciuszko. He’s got a rapidly improving horse with a record of four wins from five starts highlighted by Saturday’s win over the Kosciuszko course. Should the four year old be snapped up by an individual slot holder or a syndicate of lucky winning ticket holders, Todd will immediately plan a suitable programme for his lightly raced horse. He’s not anxious to race So Magnificent before the big one on October 18th, but would almost certainly look for a “tick over” trial on one of the Sydney tracks a couple of weeks before the feature event.
There was a time when Bob Smart was anxious for Todd to join the family butchering business in Gundagai, but he gave up when his son showed much more interest in things far removed from snags, mince meat and chump chops. Todd’s three brothers Rhys, Jake and Joseph are very much at home behind the counter at Smart’s Butchery. The fourth member of the quartet is blissfully content training his beloved gallopers in the national capital, despite the fact that it’s much colder in the winter months than it is in Dad’s cool room at Gundagai. Saturday’s win at Royal Randwick can only make him keener.
(Banner image - With his four white feet and dazzling racing colours So Magnificent stood out like a beacon as he went past the post at Randwick - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)