Gold, gold, gold for Smerdon

There are shades of déjà vu with Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon’s staying winner Driffield Gold, destined for a short break with gold, gold, gold next to his name after three wins on end, the latest at his home track on Saturday.

This time last year the then 4YO Light Vision (Br/bl g, Zerpour (IRE)-Switches, by Naturalism (NZ)) also trained by Smerdon, showed similar promise in winning in town, then won again in August after a let-up, and again in September and October after a freshen-up, before seconds in Melbourne Cup week in two Group 3 2500m races, the Saab Quality (to Moatize) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (to Capecover).

Smerdon acknowledged similarities with Driffield Gold (B g 5, Aristotle (IRE)-Lynden Gold, by Gold Carat (USA)), and claimed – as he had with Light Vision – that a step-up to a race such as the Caulfield Cup would be a huge progression.

Among the many things the talented trainer does well is place his horses, a skill passed on from his uncle Arthur and father Bob, each of whom made the Smerdon name synonymous with well-executed plunges.

Driffield Gold’s success in the PFD Food Service Handicap (2000m) made it four wins and a second from five starts for Smerdon since bloodstock agent Jeff Gordon (jockey Nick Ryan’s stepfather) rang and suggested he would be a good fit for the stable. Smerdon was thinking mid-week stayer; instead he has a Saturday winner at Caulfield and Flemington.

Driffield Gold’s prizemoney has been boosted by $145,000 to $195,000 as three wins from 23 starts has become seven from 28. And let’s not forget the punt for connections so inclined, with Driffield Gold’s past three wins as favourite at $3.80, $1.90 and $2.10.

Smerdon said of Driffield Gold: “If we give him a freshen up now, there might be a country cup or a better race for him than what he’s doing at the moment.”

The trainer is flying, although he said last season was better, “the best season I’ve ever had – 38 in town, which was a best-ever tally”. This season, with two months to go, he is fifth on the metropolitan premiership with 29 (and seventh state-wide with 77 – last year his 38 metro wins placed him sixth and he was seventh overall with 99.)

He described his stable numbers as always fairly static. “I’ve got about 45 here at Caulfield and I’ve got about 15 or 20 at Ballarat … 60-plus at both venues,” he said. “There are all sorts of levels and grades and shades.

“Stayers, I love stayers, there are so many options for them. He (Driffield Gold) can handle the wet, too. What he’s done to date has been a real bonus.”

Smerdon’s Aquanita stable won with another shortie at Caulfield, Makeadreamcometrue (B g 5, Volksraad (GB)-Lady Tee (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)), also $2.10 favourite. Rider-on-the-rise, apprentice Nick Hall won on both. Hall, who has outridden his claim, is fourth on the metro jockeys’ premiership with 32 wins. Smerdon is using him a lot.