SMOLDA
LADBROKES Australian Pacing Gold graduate Smolda is in a prime position to join an elite group of superstars at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night.
Drawn the pole in the Miracle Mile, Smolda is aiming to become just the eighth to capture the famed sprint and Inter Dominion in the same season.
The majors have been run simultaneously since 1967.
The Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen-trained gelding completed the half the equation when he annexed the time-honoured Championship in Perth last December.
Hondo Grattan was the ground breaker in 1974, followed by Young Quinn in 1975, Preux Chevalier in 1985, Village Kid in 1986, Our Sir Vancelot 1998, Smooth Satin 2002 and Beautide in 2014.
“He is very well within himself and will be very hard to beat,” Purdon said. “There is a lot of speed off the front, but he is quick out of the gate and will hold his own.
“It’s a draw he can certainly take advantage of.”
