Trainer Patrick Smellie can now breathe a sigh of relief as after 17 attempts he was able to saddle his first winner for the 2023 racing season.

Smellie’s success came with six-year-old grey/roan gelding Buzz Assault, who found his rhythm in the day’s sixth race on Saturday, December 16.

Ridden by Oshadane Robinson, Buzz Assault led home rivals in a three-year-old and up Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) contest that also included six-year-olds and up (non-winners of four) and native-bred five-year-olds and up (non-winners of two).

Travelling over the straight at four furlongs (800m), Buzz Assault raced prominently at the start of the race and tracked the leaders Stanislaus (Tevin Foster), Supreme Star (Abigail Able), and Smoke Haze (Robert Halledeen).

Coming across the dummy rails, Buzz Assault found top stride and challenged for the lead before pulling away towards the end of the race, hitting the wire a length in front of Cold Pursuit (Phillip Parchment), with Stanislaus third. The final time was 49.0 (23.0).