It seems there is no stopping the outstanding Melbourne star Black and Bent.
Just over a week ago he rewrote history when he cantered home setting a metric city weight carrying record as well as a track record.
Forward eight days and on Sunday the popular Black Hawk gelding was at it again – this time in Victoria.
This time around it was the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle and it was a procession for Black and Bent.
In his previous run he cruised home over Yesquire and co in his state of birth, South Australia.
Black and Bent, a half brother to former jumps star Some are Bent was bred by Rob and Maureen McBryde.
The McBrydes own and operation Summerset Park Stud on the outskirts of Gumeracha in the Torrens Valley.
Gumeracha is known to many as the home of the giant rocking horse. But now it is gaining a reputation as a premier breeding ground of star racehorses thanks to the Brothers Bent.
After being originally passed in at the 2007 Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville, Black and Bent was then prepared for the National Yearling sale a few months later and he was sold there for $25,000.
Gold Coast based Blue Sky Thoroughbreds signed for the future star on behalf of Victorian based client Rick McIntosh.
Some of the connections of his headline grabbing half brother Some Are Bent buttered up to take a share in Black and Bent.
one of them is well known Victorian racing administrator and Victorian jumps racing “white knight” Mike Symons.
Symons was the man who got Victoria back jumping again – meeting with Racing Victoria officals to bring to an end the unpopular jumps ban in the state.
It seems only fitting that it would be a horse part owned by Symons who is now in jumps racing’s headlines, for all the right reasons.
And Symons and his merry band of part owners in Black and Bent are keen to set their star on a Melbourne Cup campaign after he runs in the Australian Hurdle.
Regular rider Steven Pateman has no doubt that the best still lies ahead for Black and Bent.
A scary thought really.
PIC – Jenny Barnes.
