Roughie Gives Chillemi a New Year Double

Long shot Smarty Lee gained a racing reprieve after handing champion trainer Roy Chillemi the second leg of an unlikely winning double at Cluden Park on the weekend.

The Atherton mentor earlier scored with better fancied Higher Realm ($4) ridden by Krysten Swaffer, but was pleasantly surprised when 20-1 pop Smarty Lee scored under Adam Spinks in the TAB Cl3 Plate (1200m).

“It was great to see a horse like Smarty Lee get up – he’s no champion. And it’s pleasing to see Higher Realm starting to get back to something like his best and doing what we always thought he could do,” Chillemi said.

“Young Spinks gave Smarty Lee every chance. He had the one alley, had a lovely run and got out at the right time. With the run he had if he didn’t win today he’d never win,” Chillemi said.

“The horse really looked superb and I thought if you’re not going to run a good race today you’re history.

“It’s not often we have horses go out at those sorts of prices, so it’s probably a good idea to have something on them when they do.”

Chillemi was especially pleased with Higher Realm’s resurgence of form this preparation.

The Wandjina gelding won five races in his two and three-year-old days but until this preparation had won only once in 20 months.

After a good spell and varied fitness regime, the gelding has returned to form with two wins at Cluden on the trot.

“He’s had a few soundness issues with his knees, but we’re managing it and hopefully he can stay sound and continue to be competitive,” Chillemi said. 

“We’ve varied things with him with less track work, using the walker and swimming and just keeping him off the knees where we can.

“He’s always been a horse with plenty of ability and it’s great to see him going well again.”

Higher Realm recorded a slick 55.89secs for the 1000m and continued the successful return from injury for Cairns apprentice Krysten Swaffer.

The five-year-old trailed a hot tempo set by the flying Lili Of The Glen and Aspen Lad before powering home for a length victory over Hit Snooze with Family Star a good third 1 ¼ lengths away.

Family Star’s little brother Super Fast later claimed the Mitavite Cl1 Hcp (1000m) for trainer Graham Hughes and jockey Justin Stanley. 

Pictured: Roughie Smarty Lee, with Adam Spinks in the saddle, grips on for a surprise win at Cluden to give premier trainer Roy Chillemi two wins for the day.

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