Star jumper Black And Bent will have to set a modern-day weight-carrying record to win Saturday’s Leslie Short Hurdle at Morphettville.
The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding has been asked to carry 73.5kg in the 3100m event which is his first hurdle start of the season.
Since metrics were introduced in 1972 the highest winning weight has been 73kg, carried by Moon Chase at Caulfield in 1999, Old Fox at Morphettville in January 1984 and Zama Lad who won the South Australian Grand National Steeple at Murray Bridge in May 1984.
Black And Bent hasn’t raced over the jumps since winning the Australian Hurdle (3400m) by 12 lengths under 66kg at Sandown in June last year.
At his next start he injured a tendon when runner-up to Niptious in a 2500m heat of the Banjo Paterson series at Moonee Valley and was sidelined for almost a year.
The Black Hawk rising six-year-old goes into Saturday’s event as a last-start winner of the Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) at Flemington on July 9.
Beyond that connections, who include Melbourne Racing Club chairman Mike Symons, are eyeing a trip to Japan for Black And Bent to tackle rich jumps events in either December or in the autumn.
“It’s fair to say tomorrow is a means to an end. It’s not ideal,” Smerdon said.
“If there was an option in Melbourne such as a 2600-metre race on Saturday we might have gone there but he needed something, particularly a hurdle start, leading into Warrnambool on Sunday week where it will be 3600 metres and probably wet conditions.
“So the trip over and back and the race is the best option we could come up with. He’s in great shape and he has the constitution to handle all that.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he handles the weight. They say weight will stop a train but we’re expecting him to win the race.”
The reigning Australian Jumper of the Year, who has won six and been placed in another four of his 12 career jumps starts, is set for the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle (3600m) at Warrnambool on July 31 ahead of the $200,000 Grand National Hurdle (4000m) at Sandown on August 14.
Smerdon has built up Black And Bent’s fitness with three flat trials, three flat runs and three hurdle trials, the latest when second to Phaze Action over 2400m at Pakenham on Monday.
Steven Pateman has been engaged to ride Black And Bent in all his jumps assignments over the winter.
AAP TURF
