Now Or Later wins, brightens Smerdon’s day

Trainer Robert Smerdon faces an adjourned inquiry over the scratching of Lovani at Flemington over an alleged raceday treatment.

The mare was scratched from the final race, the Paris Lane Stakes, after Racing Victoria stewards suspected the mare had been treated following her arrival on course on Saturday.

“The stewards have some concerns after receiving a report from the Compliance Assurance Team that we suspect Lovani’s been treated on course,” chief steward Terry Bailey said.

“Evidence has been taken from Mr Smerdon and his float truck driver and that’s about where we’re at.

“It’s not (alleged) an injection, it was an oral administration.”

Lovani was one of two runners Smerdon had at Flemington on Saturday.

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Now Or Later took out the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1400m) for Smerdon and is on a path towards the Group One Myer Stakes at Flemington next month.

Ridden by Ryan Maloney, Now Or Later ($10) scored by a long neck from Merriest ($7) with Payroll ($41) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

Now Or Later began her career in Ireland and came to Australia as the winner of a Group Three race.

“She had really good form in Ireland,” Smerdon said.

“She was the winner of the Thousand Guineas Prelude over this distance and was third in the Guineas itself.

“She disappointed in the autumn but I reckon acclimatisation was a bit of it and coming back off a break she was good first-up and better again today.

“She’s now a Group winner in two hemisphere’s so that gives her a lot of value.”