Simply Smart provided his trainer with a milestone win when he cruised to victory at Eagle Farm last Wednesday.
The son of Lonhro is trained by former jockey Kelly Purdy – the win her first as a trainer on a metropolitan track.
Under in form apprentice Bradley Wallace, Simply Smart lived up to his name, when at his third start, he broken his maiden status in style with an impressive all the way success.
After placings from two runs leading into the race, Simply Smart took the next step with a two and three quarter length success over Stratum youngster Go Amigo.
“He’s always shown it right from the start,” Purdy said. “Even as a yearling he was a lovely horse.”
“He’s just taken a little time. We could have started him at two – but he was still developing and it wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.”
“We’ve got him in a race at Eagle Farm on Saturday for three-year-olds. He looks to have a nice future and he should keep improving as he develops,” Purdy added.
The fledgling trainer has nine horses in work at her Gold Coast stable.
“I have a number of young horses and have been getting some good interest with horses coming from new clients which is great.”
“Ideally I could have 20 in work – any more would be too much and I don’t think you’d be able to focus on each of them. So 20 would be a nice number.”
Simply Smart was purchased by connections for $140,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from the Vinery Stud draft.
By the same sire as Denman, Beaded and Benfica, Simply Smart is a half brother to former Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic winner Pluralism – he now races as Macau King in Macau.
Simply Smart’s dam, the unraced Canny Lad mare Specie, is a half sister to Golden Slipper winner Guineas and group placed three time Sydney winner Takas.
It is also the family as group winning siblings Mossman and Moss Rocket.
Purdy will be out to make history in January with her stakes performed runner Warrior Girl being aimed at the Magic Millions Sprint.
As a rider Purdy scored her biggest win aboard the mare in that same race in 2010.
“It would have to be some sort of history – the same person winning the same Magic Millions race – once as a rider and then as a trainer.”
PIC – Dan Costello.
