Trent Smith is firmly entrenched within the circle of elite horsemen in Australia. He has an NCHA Futurity to his name with Moore Metal and is widely recognized as one of the progressive young faces in the cutting industry. He has a vision for the future of the industry and wants to play a major role as the sport progresses. This vision has included wanting to be involved with the mare line that he considers the most dynamic available in Australia today.
One Moore Annie continues to be a Champion Campdrafting mare in the hands of her owner, Wally Rea, but she also continues to produce champion offspring, including Trent’s NCHA Futurity winning mount, Moore Metal and his top performing half brother, One Wild Cat. To be called the best producing mare in the country is a big statement, but it is one that sits comfortably with Trent and is the reason he went looking for her progeny.
He approached Wally Rea as to what progeny Annie had and if any were available and was delighted to know she had two embryo colt yearling foals by Metallic Cat, making them full brothers to Moore Metal. Trent inspected the two foals at Wally’s Stonehenge property and he and his business partner, Glenn Wilmot, purchased both.
Glenn had been a great mate of Trent’s father and the pair went right back to the days when they shared a love of trotters. However, as time passed Glenn was keen to become involved in the Cutting game and this was a great opportunity to become involved on the top shelf.
Glenn was then keen to break the colts in himself as he wanted to be physically involved in their journey. Knowing Trent would be the man during their education process it was his opportunity to contribute, and Glenn did a magic job returning the colts to Trent with an excellent foundation.
2022 Pink Cutting, Scone.
Granite was the colt that appealed to them with his size, his balance, and his nature. Trent felt that from the beginning he was the best prospect he had had and being that bit bigger (15.1) he knew he had a future which wasn’t just limited to cutting. However, cutting was always going to be his immediate discipline and he accepted his education with enthusiasm and maturity.
Covid then halted his program and his Futurity year didn’t happen. Trent did get to start him as a Derby horse at two Futurities in Victoria, finaling in both. Granite then placed 2nd in a Novice at Myrtleford before his first major outing at Scone, 2022 where he was last out in the final and finished fourth. A real achievement for this young horse came in the Pink Cutting 2022 at the Scone show. Brooke West had her first ride on Granite and finished 3rd, a wonderful result as he was the youngest horse competing.
2022 NCHA Futurity, Open Derby.
Granite will continue with his Aged Event career now Covid has allowed things to return to normal and Trent says he can probably see a campdrafting career for him in his future. At 15.1 hands he is built for campdrafting and his natural ability to track cattle at speed with balance is where his future will lie. Trent feels he is a terrific cutting horse but expects he will be an even better campdrafter.
When breeding horses any potential mare owner is attracted by genetics and with Granite there are genetics that are comparable to all superstar genetics worldwide. Metallic Cat is the horse that is proving himself over and over again in both the States and in Australia, while One Moore Annie represents the best Australian genetics with her sire One Moore Playboy being from One Moore Spin.
The future couldn’t be brighter for Granite and he is definitely a sire that offers potential for any discipline.
