Racing: Aim Smart back to his best at Ruakaka

Chris Johnson rides Aim Smart to a solid victory on Saturday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Classy customer Aim Smart made the best possible start from his new base at Lauren Brennan's Cambridge operation when he gave his rating 75 rivals a beating after leading most of the way over 1400m at Ruakaka.

Owned and raced by global powerhouse, The China Horse Club, the Smart Missile gelding had commenced his career from the stable of Tony Pike where he won first up as a two-year-old. An injury suffered in Listed company at his second start saw him put aside for six months before opening his three-year-old campaign with a second placed finish behind Prom Queen in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders Stakes (1200m) in September last year.

Further niggles surfaced after an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) which saw him sent to the spelling paddock again before he was transferred to the care of Brennan's boutique set-up.

"He has come back well after doing a lot of work with Gina Schick during his break," said Brennan. "She had him out on the hills and at the beach which has helped him out a lot. He's still not an easy horse as he does have his issues, but he is as good as gold now and it was a great thrill to see him go so well first up on Saturday."

A trial win over 1050m at Taupo last month had Brennan hopeful of a good performance on the weekend although she was the first to admit she hadn't expected to see her charge in front for most of the 1400m journey.

"He came from the back at Taupo and that was how we expected him to race on Saturday, especially as he went from the outside gate," she said.

"When he got away so well Chris (rider Chris Johnson) said he was happy going forward and making the pace and did it pretty easily from there.

"I thought he might feel the pinch in the run home but Chris said when they came up to challenge him the horse just went whoosh and took off again.

"It really was a great thrill to see him back and to train a winner for the China Horse Club is a real honour."

Brennan will now let the dust settle before setting out any plan for the horse over the next few months.

Meanwhile, precocious juvenile Von Trapp didn't disappoint Andrew Calder in his first serious test.

The Richard Collett-trained youngster had been unbeaten in three trial appearances and he continued his winning ways on debut in Saturday's Almanzor At Cambridge Stud (1000m) at Ruakaka.

"I've been waiting for him," successful rider and Collett's son-in-law Andrew Calder said. "He's a really promising horse."

- NZ Racing Desk