Smooth Satin at the top of his game winning the 2002 Inter Dominion Final at Harold Park
The 2002 Inter Dominion champion Smooth Satin has gone to a better world.
The horse affectionately known as "Socks" has been battling health problems recently and the decision came last Friday(October 3rd) to have the former racetrack star euthanized.
Smooth Satin or aka "The Bathurst Bullet" was suffering from severe colic attacks brought on by bowel complications which was making it difficult for the former star pacer to digest his feed, even after extensive tests were carried out by the Charles Sturt University, nothing could be detected or more so, nothing could be done to rectify the ongoing problem.
"It wasn't a twisted bowel but it got to the stage where he couldn't digest his food without suffering colic attacks, the University couldn't pinpoint the problem so we were left with no choice......he wasn't going to suffer" Former trainer Steve Turnbull said.
"He has been living the life of luxury with his own paddock, he was more spoilt now than ever before and he still looked a million dollars" Turnbull added.
Smooth Satin was raced by Bathurst couple Laurie and Gwen Paton after purchasing him for $8000 from the Golden Gait Stud draft of Wayne and Anne Lamb in 1998.
The Bathurst Bullet was a star right from the very first time Steve Turnbull placed hopples on him and made an impact at every season he raced.
At 2, Smooth Satin was successful in his very first start at his home track of Bathurst in 1999 before going on to claim the Sapling Stakes at Harold Park and the New South Wales Sires Stakes at the same venue.
When he returned as a 3yo, Smooth Satin continued in the same manner in which he started in his freshman campaign by claiming the Simpson Sprint and the New South Wales Sires Stakes series before finishing 2nd in the Victoria Derby, 3rd in the Queensland Derby and 4th in the New South Wales Derby.
At 4, Smooth Satin returned in dynamic form once again and claimed the Paleface Adios Sprint before going on to take out Australia's premier 4yo event, the Gr.1 Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park.
His season as a 5yo was remarkable, Smooth Satin claimed the signature speed test of Australasian harness racing - the Miracle Mile at Harold Park, whilst he also captured the Gr.1 Ben Hur before going on to win the 2002 Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final at Harold Park in front of a crowd of more than 22,000 screaming fans, many of which that travelled far and wide across the state to cheer home their newly crowned champion.
It was a night that the entire Turnbull family will never forget and it was also an unforgettable occasion for Laurie and Gwen Paton.
During the post-race presentations, the Paton couple kindly donated 10% of the $300,000 first prize to Kids with Cancer.
During his time on the Grand Circuit stage, Smooth Satin managed placings in the 2002 Ballarat Cup, the 2002 Miracle Mile, the 2003 A.G Hunter Cup, the 2003 Queensland Pacing Championship, the 2003 Treuer Memorial and the 2004 Treuer Memorial whilst also running placings in many other feature events.
Smooth Satin also claimed the Gold Coast Cup, the Sydney Cup and the Bathurst City Gold Cup twice.
In 2002, Smooth Satin reached national headlines following a failed kidnapping attempt which left the connections in a state of shock and confusion as the champion pacer was listed as a gelding and had no value at stud, thankfully, Smooth Satin was found unharmed.
Smooth Satin was trained throughout his career by Steve Turnbull and was driven by Steve on all but one occasion when legendary Victorian horseman Gavin Lang took the drive in the 2003 Victoria Cup when Steve was serving a suspension at the time.
Smooth Satin or "Socks" will be missed by many.
SMOOTH SATIN FACT FILE:
12yo STATURE - SEAFIELD IVY GELDING
122 STARTS - 46 WINS - 48 PLACINGS
PRIZEMONEY - $1,428,490
BEST MILE RATE - 1.55.4
