In-form sprinter Beyond Pardon will back up in Saturday's rich All Victorian Sprint Series Final at Flemington.
The Robert Smerdon trained gelding was a four length winner at Moonee Valley last week and has come through the race in good order for this Saturday's tougher assignment up the straight six furlongs.
Last week's race wasn't in Smerdon's original plans for Beyond Pardon, but it looked an ideal race and he made the most of it with a four length win.
“Originally we were going to run in the 1400m race at Flemington then return there for the Sprint Series final,” Smerdon said.
“But it looked a good opportunity for him and his form on the quick back-up is very good. He has a great constitution and can hold his form for a long time.
“It's a tougher assignment this week but he drops a bit in weight and Michael Rodd is aboard again. “
Beyond Pardon has started only once up the straight at Flemington and just missed at the tail end of his three-year-old season this time last year.
He has five wins from 25 starts and will be one of the main contenders in Saturday's $150,000 final.
With almost $1 million in prizemoney on offer at Flemington for finals day, Smerdon has a number of entries including versatile galloper Black And Bent.
Last winter the top jumper took the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool before switching back to the flat and racking up three flat wins, including a heat of the Banjo Patterson Series.
He then returned to the jumps to win the Australian Hurdle, before just missing in another heat of the Banjo Patterson series.
In that race he suffered a tendon injury and spent almost a year on the sidelines.
Smerdon has nursed the gelding back and after two runs from a spell, the latest a fast finishing sixth over 2040m at Moonee Valley, he takes on the Banjo Patterson Series Final this weekend over 2500m.
“He's had the two runs back plus a hurdle trial in between. He's up in distance and his fitness is better now. He has that competitive nature and the miles in his legs now so he looks ready for this.”
Beyond this weekend, Black And Bent is likely to make his return to jumps racing in Adelaide – to get his eye in for the $100,000 Kevin Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool later this month.
“We're aiming him for the rich race at Warrnambool but it would be tough to go into that at his first jumps race back so we'll probably go to Adelaide first for a hurdle.”
