Germanicus Keeps Dream Alive For Smith
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday September 24, 2008
RACING'S dream factory works on rolling out a rare commodity called a good horse.
What was produced in the early-morning drizzle at Broadmeadow yesterday looks likely to fit the bill of being a classy galloper.The dream is alive again for Newcastle trainer Darren Smith thanks to unheralded youngster Germanicus, which made a stunning racetrack debut in the first two-year-old trial of the season at Broadmeadow.A son of General Nediym out of the mare Catalina, he was ridden out by jockey Andrew Gibbons in the 800-metre trial to win by 121/2 lengths.The time of 48.5 seconds, with the final 600m in 34.75, was the fastest of the day, which included three events for open-class gallopers.Smith immediately announced plans to aim Germanicus at the first two-year-old event of the season in Sydney, the Breeders Plate for colts and geldings, which is a listed event worth $100,000 over 1000m at Randwick on October 4.It was in June that Smith first laid eyes on Germanicus."I bought the colt at the Magic Millions June sales simply because he was a nice looker," Smith said."He took my eye, and I got him for $75,000. That trial was his first real hit-out, so he is a real surprise packet."If he gets through the trial well, I will try and get him into the Breeders Plate, and if he won that, the syndicate that bought him would have a cheap horse."Smith admitted he was hoping to come up with that "next good horse"."Since Court Command went and my old horses like Diamond Sun and Tall Timbers finished, I have been quiet," Smith said."You are always looking and hoping for that next good horse, and Germanicus could be what I have been after."
© 2008 Newcastle Herald
