Help from above could carry Super Smink to an emotional win in The Quokka

There will be an emotional family connection in the “Grandad’s Gift” ownership syndicate in The Quokka contender Super Smink.

Connections of Super Smink are banking on some help from above to guide the flying filly to a tear-jerking triumph in The Quokka on Saturday.

For all the hype and lucrative riches of the $5m The Quokka in Perth, there is a deeply personal and emotional family link in the ownership of Dan Morton-trained WA three-year-old Super Smink.

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The “Grandad’s Gift” syndicate in Super Smink is in memory of Lance Langford, a former poultry farmer and one-time newspaper worker who passed away aged 93 last October.

Langford gifted his ownership share to his four grandchildren and the star filly will race in his honour in The Quokka at Ascot.

“We are hoping grandad is looking down from above and gives Super Smink some luck in the run,” Grandad’s Gift syndicate manager Luke de Clifford, one of Langford’s grandchildren, said.

“Grandad was a hobby trainer back in the day and he really knew his horses.

Super Smink is one of the key local chances in the $5m The Quokka in Perth. Picture: Western Racepix

“There have always been horses in the family, we used to go down to his place in Albany when he lived down there and he had horses on a property.

“He was in his 90s when he died but he was still very much with it before he died.

“He had the early signs of dementia but you could still hold a conversation with him, for sure.

“He went out to the races most Saturdays and he knew who all the kids and grandkids and great grandkids were.

“When Super Smink runs now, it is absolutely a family affair.”

Only a week after Langford passed away, Super Smink scored an emotional win for her big syndicate of owners in the Listed Belgravia Stakes at Ascot on October 28 last year.

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The late Lance Langford (right) with Danielle Pratt. Lance was one of the owners of Super Smink and gifted his share to his four grandchildren. Picture: Western Racepix

Super Smink, who missed a run in the Gold Rush last December, will be first-up in The Quokka where she is rated a $15 chance.

The filly was meant to have a lead-up run but spiked a minor temperature on race morning and Morton didn’t want to risk her.

That’s 3 stakes victories on the trot for Super Smink as the @MortonRacing trained filly captures the Listed Macmahon Belgravia Stakes over 1200m at Ascot.

By Lincoln Farm’s Super One, Super Smink was sold by Forest View Farm for $45,000 at the 2022 Perth @mmsnippets Yearling… pic.twitter.com/EXqzsR62Mb

— Aushorse (@Aushorse_TBA) October 28, 2023

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Super Smink has the Ladbrokes Racing Club slot in The Quokka and looks a strong local chance.

“Part of the great things about racing is the way it connects people and the awesome backstories of owners and participants,” a Ladbrokes spokesman said.

“No doubt we hope the horse runs well for Ladbrokes Racing Club members, but also hopefully for Lance and his family.

“We definitely think she is in this race up to her eyeballs.

“It’s easy to forget Super Smink was pre-race favourite for the $1.5m Gold Rush at Ascot in December, but then missed the final field.

“Dan Morton has a big opinion of this filly and there is definitely a sense of unfinished business.”

Originally published as Help from above could carry Super Smink to an emotional win in The Quokka