Comeback pacer Smolda came over the top of dual InterDominion Beautide to win the Len Smith Mile at Menangle on Sunday. Beautide, which started a $1.20 favourite, couldn't have had any excuses as he found the front and had an easy middle half-mile but was unable to match a flying Smolda in the run to the line.
Smolda, which had run a track record winning the Renshaw Cup at Penrith last start, recorded a 1.50.6 mile running the final 400m in 26.3 seconds. "He's had some setbacks, this horse, but he appears to be over them now and we should be able to go on and win a few decent races with him now," trainer Mark Purdon said. "His run at Penrith was enormous and the way he sprinted impressed me, so I was confident he'd keep Beautide honest today."
The deadly combination of Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen once again dominated a feature meeting at Menangle also winning the Australian Pacing Gold Final for two-year-old colts and geldings as Our Waikiki Beach remained unbeaten outclassing his rivals.
