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Superhard stays unbeaten at Sandown

Brad Waters - Wednesday Sep 6

Superhard does what he wants at the start of his races but the three-year-old produced an irresistible finish to Wednesday's Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap (1000m) at Sandown.

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Robert Smerdon has a smart colt on his hands in the shape of Superhard. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Trainer Robert Smerdon said Superhard fired up and over-raced if pushed out of the gates, which made life difficult in his debut win at Pakenham but the colt had no such trouble on Wednesday.

"He had just got into this habit of falling out of the barriers," Smerdon said. "We were mindful that he was always a bit keen going so we were a bit soft on him in the barriers.

"He flew the start today. Maybe drawing wide was a plus because he wasn't in there long and then he got into that spot without being rubbed along.

"His manners were so much better today and I'm hoping that's the way it's going to be for him going forward."

A better getaway on Wednesday left jockey Ryan Maloney able to park Superhard in third spot on the back of favourite Written Choice until the 300m.

Written Choice claimed the leader Wait For No One at the 150m but was unable to withstand the winner's finish in the last 100m.

Smerdon said Superhard as primarily a sprinter but he would assess the colt's progress on a run-by-run basis.

"He's a horse of obvious talent," Smerdon said.

"I'm pleased that he could win a race of quite a bit of depth. In the months to come, we'll look back and it will be quite a good form reference."

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