Weona Smartone will be one of the prime points of focus of attention at the Sunshine Coast meeting tomorrow where he will attempt to extend an already significant winning sequence.
The son of Shamexpress has suffered only one defeat in his nine-race career to date and that came on debut where he finished as a beaten favourite.
After that initial taste of competitive action, Weona Smartone did not race again for a full nine months, but when he returned, it was all systems go and his followers have been repaid eight times over with a run of eight successive victories taking Weona Smartone to the high ground of performance.
Trainer David Vandyke has spaced Weona Smartone’s runs throughout.
In his second preparation he won twice … then was put out again. The third preparation brought another three wins on the trot … and then he was given another break. His fourth preparation brought another two wins … before he was given another month-and-a-half off.
Last time in, there was just one run and another victory … and he will resume on Saturday in an Open Handicap over 1000m after a just shy of another two months freshen up.
Three of Weona Smartone’s eight wins have come by margins in excess of four lengths, but in his last three victories the winning margin came down to less than a length on each occasion, last time being the closest of all when he only scored a last gasp win over Elixir.
While that bare statistic might seem to open Weona Smartone up to a coming defeat in some people’s minds, drilling down further shows that Weona Smartone was giving Elixer no less than a 7kg advantage at the weights (60.5kg to 53.5kg). A hard-fought win to be sure, but still a very good one when put in that perspective.
Weona Smartone now returns to the Sunshine Coast (his home track) where he is unbeaten having won two from two over the track and distance … but his last win there was in a BM65 contest.
On Saturday he will face seven rivals in an Open Handicap on an expected soft surface which he does handle well.
Weona Smartone follows a tried and tested path coming into the race. He is drawn well in barrier two and has Ryan Maloney, who has partnered Weona Smartone to six wins, back in the saddle.
Not many horses get to win eight races in a row. Even less make it nine.
On Saturday we will get the answer as to whether Weona Smartone can project himself to that next level.
The betting market currently sides with him. He is the $2 Sportsbet favourite ahead of Je Suis Belle ($4), Startantes ($4.50) and Racecourse Road ($7).
