Australia: Mister Smartee gets big weight break for repeat bid in Kempsey Cup
In the last four months, the 7-year-old Australian gelding Mister Smartee is one of just two starters for trainer Tas Morton. Mister Smartee has represented the stable well, winning his second start in the last year in the Krambach Cup at Taree Racecourse on Oct. 15.
Mister Smartee won the Kempsey Cup at 7 3/4 furlongs at tiny Kempsey Racecourse last November and is back in the same race this Friday.
Mister Smartee is one of 12 runners in the Kempsey Cup, and will carry 123 pounds, getting a big concession from topweights Think Free and Prima Stella at 134.4. Mister Smartee was assigned 126.7 pounds, but the presence of apprentice jockey Georgina McDowell lowers the assignment.
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A winner of 8 of 52 starts, Mister Smartee won the Kempsey Cup as a 6-1 chance utilizing his typical closing style.
The Kempsey Cup favorite will be the 7-year-old gelding Top Me Up Again, who was third against a tougher level of runners in a six-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie on Oct. 8. Top Me Up Again is winless in six starts, since winning a seven-furlong handicap at Sunshine Coast in October 2020.
Since his last start, Top Me Up Again finished first in a six-runner barrier trial, or training race, at five furlongs at Port Macquarie Racecourse on Oct. 24.
Top Me Up Again has set the pace, but is better suited by racing as a stalker.
Think Free was racing in group-level stakes as recently as mid-September, but was only 11th of 13 in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes at seven furlongs at Newcastle. Think Free closed from fourth to win a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Kempsey in June. Think Free is winless in his last six starts.
Kempsey has an eight-race program, beginning at 10:05 p.m. Eastern or 7:05 p.m. Pacific on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.