Smooth Act's Sizzling Derby Success

NORTHERN Rivers training genius Robert Cooke will be back at Capalaba for the upcoming State of Origin series, but not with Sunday's Derby winner Smooth Act.

Smooth Act (Smooth Fancy-Our Magnate) ran a scorching 19.43, just three lengths outside the track record, when he won Sunday's Derby at the juicy odds of $8.50.

He scored by three lengths over Master Douglas ($1.70) with a head to Above Average ($3.30) in third.

Cooke will head back to Capalaba for the State Of Origin with the classy, but often unreliable beginner, Cash Point who made his debut at Capalaba on Sunday with a 19.68 victory by five and a half lengths in a 4th grade.

He started $1.45 favourite and downed Burning Arrow and Alpha Lucky.

Cooke said Smooth Act was only taken to Capalaba because of his poor box manners and he has picked up the Derby as a bonus.

“The Capalaba runs were to try to stop him thrashing about in the boxes as the lure was coming when on the circle,” said Cooke.

Smooth Act had run 23.71 when winning a maiden on debut at Lismore in December.

“I had to do something with him and Capalaba was the plan,” said Cooke. “He has not put a foot wrong in three runs up Capalaba.

“He will now go to the heats of the Flying Amy Classic at Albion Park on Thursday week.”

Cooke has been a real fan of the progeny of Smooth Fancy having bred Group 1 winner Cash In Motion to him.

Cash In Motion is a half sister to Smooth Act's dam Our Magnate. Cooke has always raved about the natural ability shown by Our Magnate who was halted from showing it by injury.

“And I love the ability and strength Smooth Fancy puts into his pups,” said Cooke. “He is a much underrated stud dog.”

Of Cash Point, Cooke said he had got the dog back home in May after a stint in Victoria with Anthony Azzopardi. The dog took his record to 30 starts for 10 wins and nine placings and $60,000 in stakes with victory on Sunday.

Also lining up in the Capalaba State Of Origin is certain to be fellow Northern Rivers galloper Cosmic Bonus.

He was a brilliant 19.69 winner of a Best 8 on Sunday.

It was his debut at the track and he scored by a neck from Tiempo Dinero with Corykodi in third.

Cosmic Bonus is a marvel. He has started 102 times for 49 wins, 27 placings and $354,000 in stakes for Evelyn Harris.