This weekend is crunch time for Black And Bent as he has his first flat start since embarking on one of Australia’s most successful ever jumps campaigns.
He’s back on the flat for the Naturalism Stakes with big ambitions potentially taking him all the way to the 2011 Melbourne Cup.
There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before then though and realistically he needs to put in a good showing this weekend to make the dream a possibility.
The winner of the Naturalism Stakes is exempt from the ballot for the 2011 Caulfield Cup meaning they avoid the brutal qualification race.
Black And Bent last raced on August 28 winning the Houlahan Hurdle at Sandown and since then he hasn’t done much at all.
Trainer Robert Smerdon is attempting to freshen him up for the 2000m journey and then try and build his distance back to two miles.
He says the Naturalism Stakes is the ideal starting point for the six year old but don’t expect him to build upon his 17 race wins from 40 starts just yet.
“It’s not a race he could win on Saturday,” Smerdon said.
“It is going to be a hot race but it keeps him ticking over towards a longer race for him next time which will be more significant for him going forward.”
In terms of the first events he’s likely to be competitive in Smerdon is targeting either the Listed Ansett Stakes over 2400m at Mornington on October 1st or the Listed Bart Cummings at Flemington the next day.
“I think he has freshened up all right but we will know more after Saturday,” Smerdon said.
“We didn’t have to do much with him.”
Black And Bent will be up against a red hot field this weekend with the early favourite being December Draw.
He’s also the current favourite for the 2011 Caulfield Cup as well after Lights Of Heaven faded out at her last start.
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