Black And Bent Hurdles Into History

Saturday, 19 June 2010 04:26

With a furlong to travel Steven Pateman took a look over his right shoulder and without a danger, or jumps protester, anywhere in sight he began to ease soon to become Australian Hurdle champion Black And Bent down.

He then gestured to his beaten opposition to 'come and catch me' and in an era where pre-post celebrations occur at monotonous regularity, this one seemed fitting.

"He won that easy, he is an absolute superstar," boasted Patemen upon dismounting.

Despite being eased down for almost two hundred metres Black And Bent still recorded a twelve length victory in the $100,000 Australian Hurdle (3400m) after an almost faultless jumping performance.

With daylight to the Robbie Laing trained Corries ($21,$26) in second place very little seperated the rest of the field with Vindicating ($13,$15) just a handful of lengths back in third.

Saviour of the jumps racing industry, and prominent owner, Mike Symons couldn't put his delight into words but knew exactly how to describe his up and coming hurdler.

"He is a star," said Symons.

"We have just been blessed, I can't put it into words.

"They don't win much easier than that," added a jubilant Symons.

Also the owner of late scratching Some Are Bent, another of Australia's star hurdlers, Symons was adamant Black And Bent had the potential to surpass his older brother.

"I don't think Some Are Bent could've won with that sort of authority in the same race a couple of years ago," said Symons.

"This horse is just flying."

Symons admitted that a trip to Japan was his ultimate goal with the four-year-old but didn't want to look too far ahead for fear of not relishing the moment.

"It is tough to get a horse to Japan, we have tried before and not made it, but that's the dream," said Symons.

"We will just take it one run at a time and we are enjoying the ride."

Patemen seemed humbled by the opportunity to ride the gelding who unlike many hurdlers has enjoyed the services of flat racing stars such as Glen Boss and Luke Nolen in recent weeks.

"I'm so thrilled for the connections," said Pateman.

"To give me this ride, I'm just so grateful, I've been waiting for this my whole career."

Pateman observed that it was Black And Bent's jumping ability that ultimately won the race for him not withstanding his proficiency on the flat.

"He just kept jumping his way to the front, it was just the most incredible feeling," said Pateman.

"I think he could be a champion hurdler in England."

Trainer Robert Smerdon joined in praise of the gelding's jumping style adding that with his current efficiency over the hurdles it is difficult to see how he could improve a great deal.

"He does everything so efficiently, the next thing will be for him to graduate to the bigger fences," said Smerdon.

"I'm not sure how good you have to be to tackle the international horses, but he is pretty good.

"I never thought he would win the flat races on the way through this preparation, we had targeted this race but they were just meant to get him fit," Smerdon added.

Black And Bent has now started the twelve times over the hurdles and has been successful on the six occasions for almost $280,000 in prizemoney after today's win.

Photos by Colin Bull.