By MIKE DILLON
The Browne stable cheer squad got a bit larger for tomorrow's $50,000 TV Guide Hurdles at Ellerslie with the arrival in New Zealand of American jumps trainer Ann Stewart.
Ms Stewart has been to New Zealand several times, but has not attended a race meeting.
The Brownes told her to coincide her next trip with the Great Northern meeting and she will be standing alongside Ann Browne when Smart Hunter tries for a career highlight in tomorrow's feature.
"Ann won the Maryland Hunt Cup the other day, a big timber race where they jump nothing but post and rails," said Ann Browne yesterday. "She was here last year to take possession of a Spectacularphantom horse we had developed over fences to the point of being ready to race."
If Smart Hunter does not win the TV Guide Hurdles this time, he is probably destined never to do it.
He could not have more factors in his favour.
His Dunstan Waikato Hurdles second to Crojack, beaten a nose, should almost certainly have been a win. Shifting ground in the home straight cost him dearly and there was a lot to like about the way he finished off the final stages.
The extra distance this time suits him as much, if not more than any of the opposition and he has one even more crucial advantage - his impeccable jumping.
The TV Guide Northern is a no-mistakes race. Hit a fence hard and nothing this side of a miracle can get you the money.
Replay the video of Smart Hunter and Michelle Hopkins taking the last hurdle on their way to winning at Ellerslie on April 22 - it was poetry.
"He was always a pretty good jumper, but he seems to have got even better," says Ann Browne.
"Just about every jump in the Waikato Hurdles was perfect."
The prospect of a looser track than at Te Rapa is another plus factor.
The opposition was never going to get to Little Bro in the sharper hurdle race at Ellerslie last Saturday, but Bodle looked good when trying hard and finishing second.
"He's better for that run," said trainer Alby MacDonald.
Bodle is a dour type and while giving Smart Hunter 2.5kg will be no day at the beach, he is a realistic winning chance.
So, too, is Crojack, although his chances of seeing out the 4190m depends very much on him getting a lead somewhere near as soft as the one that win him the Waikato Hurdles.
This is no race for a horse who cannot see out a distance, but a soft lead would be a big help.
Racing: Run-up favours Smart Hunter
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