Sun Met winner Smart Call finally broke the ice on her international campaign when she romped to victory under Jim Crowley in the Gr3 Stobart Energy Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes over 2000m at Newcastle on Friday evening.
Smart Call – overdue win
The first running of the Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes at Group 3 level attracted a strong field including Mia Tesoro, Glade, Maid To Remember and Company Asset, who finished first, third, fourth and fifth in the 1800m Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes at York on 10 June.
Smart Call (Ideal World – Good Judgement) is bred and raced by Mauritzfontein Stud and was conditioned by Alec Laird throughout her South African racing campaign. With victory in the 2016 Gr1 Paddock Stakes securing her a berth in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and her triumphant follow-up victory in the 2016 Gr1 J&B Met underlining her class, the daughter of Ideal World set sail for the world stage.
After an injury set-back put paid to her Breeders’ Cup aspirations, Smart Call was placed in the care of Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute to continue her international campaign.
