PREFERMENT was given plenty to smile about when his daughter SMIRK became his first winner in Australia on Saturday.
Prepared by Chris Waller, the smart 3yo filly was having her second career start and stamped the landmark win impressively with a barnstorming late finish at Newcastle. View Video HERE: Preferment lands first Australian winner with Smirk - YouTube
Fittingly not only is she trained by Preferment's former trainer, but she is raced by the same owners who raced him also.
"It's great to see Chris and some of the original owners registering Preferment's first winner in Australia. We have seen a lot of very promising Preferments at the trials and races in the last few months and we have been impressed with the patience trainers have shown with his progeny. As a son of Zabeel, we know whatever his stock are showing us now, will only get better," said Brighthill Farm's Nick King.
Smirk is out of the Stravinsky mare Keep Smiling and was presented by Wentwood Grange at the 2020 Book One Yearling Sale, where purchased by Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $160,000.
Smirk is raced by her trainer along with Mystery Downs, Mrs CM Cook, Mr I Bruce and Mr R Smith, Peachester Lodge Pty Ltd and Woppitt Bloodstock.
"Waller Racing feel that Smirk is a progressive filly who can move to bigger and better things from here," explained King.
Smirk's bold win followed a creditable second placing at Tauranga on Saturday by the Stephen Marsh-trained Preferment gelding Like It Sweet.
"Preferment is well represented in a lot of the best training stables on both sides of the Tasman, so there is a lot to look forward to," said King.
The oldest progeny by Preferment, who was a Champion four-time Gr.1 winning racehorse, are now three.
