Smart Volatility’s affinity for straight track racing means the former Hong Kong sprinter will run in a stakes race at Flemington.
Now in the care of John Sargent at Randwick, Smart Volatility has had two Australian starts since his return from Hong Kong.
He finished seventh in the Winter Dash at Randwick on June 25 after he was hampered early in the race but was back to his best to win the Listed Ramornie Handicap at the Grafton carnival.
On Saturday, Smart Volatility returns to Melbourne for the Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap, more than four years after leaving Robert Smerdon as an unraced horse.
Sargent said the decision to send Smart Volatility south was made for a number of reasons.
“We’ll get a feel about him for the spring but also the straight six (furlongs) and a better track,” Sargent said.
“He got beaten first-up in Sydney on a soft track and the track will be a bit better at Flemington as up here it’s been raining a lot.”
Smart Volatity won his Hong Kong debut over the straight 1000 metres and later in his career finished third to Peniaphobia over that same course in Group One company.
Sargent says Smart Volatility is a rejuvenated sprinter following a long break but admits it has taken a lot of work to get him into racing trim.
“That’s why he needed the first run before the Ramornie,” Sargent said.
“He’s gone on with it since he won that last start with a good trial.
“He’s out in a yard during the day whereas up there they are confined and he’s enjoying it a lot.
“I’ve had quite a few come back from Hong Kong and you can change them around with the different environment.”
Sargent will saddle another former Hong Kong resident, Elusive Runner, in the Roy Billing OAM Handicap at Randwick.
A tendon injury stopped Elusive Runner from racing in Hong Kong and he had two years on the sidelines after running seventh in the 2014 Queensland Derby when in Sargent’s care.
“He’s as good as gold now,” Sargent said.
“He had a good spell and after three runs he should be peaking on Saturday.”
