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Smart Missile's Final Award Strikes in Canberra Guineas

Mark Smith - Sunday March 10

Making just his fourth trip to the races, the Mark Newnham-trained Final Award came from last to win Sunday's Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m).

With Josh Parr in the saddle the son of Smart Missile powered down the centre of the track to defeat Laburnum (Denman) by half a length with Major Wager (Exceed And Excel) a further three lengths back in third.

"He didn't run a strong 1600 metres at Warwick Farm off a slow tempo but here today they went really fast for the first third of the race and it set up really nicely," Parr said.

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"I got a beautiful cart up on the back of Tim Clark (on Laburnum) and he took me as far as I wanted.

"He had a good turn of foot today, which he showed on the Kensington two starts back. It was a fine effort by the team to get him back up off a slightly disappointing run.


"He appreciated the nice spacious track and he is definitely on his way up as he has come a long way in a short space of time. How much further he goes this preparation might be a bit of a question mark."

A winner on the Kensington track at Randwick on February 9, Final Award carries the colours of his breeder, Eduardo Cojuangco's Gooree Stud.

He is the best of two winners out of the Strategic mare Bound to Blush, the winner of four races and placed in the Group III BRC Glenlogan Park Stakes, Listed ATC Razor Sharp Handicap, Listed James HB Carr Stakes, Listed Hawkesbury Guineas and Listed Qld Tatt's RC Travel Associates Classic.

Bound To Blush has a 2yo filly by Smart Missile, a yearling filly by Artie Schiller (USA) and a colt foal by Shalaa (IRE).

Purchased by Aquis / Blue Sky Bloodstock for $200,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare, Bound To Blush was covered by Kobayashi (I Am Invincible) last spring.

Final Award becomes the 10th stakes-winner for Twin Hills Stud's Smart Missile (pictured) who would already have a special place in the heart of Mark Newnham as the sire of his Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Maid Of Heaven.

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