Robert Smerdon is normally measured and calm when he approaches major racedays, however Saturday's Australian hurdle and steeple day at Sandown is an exception for the successful trainer, as for years he has been a passionate advocate for jumps races.
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Smerdon, a jumps jockey in the late 1970s, has during his training career become one of the most decorated horsemen with jumpers the state has seen.
There's not a major jumping race in Australia he hasn't won.
"It's exciting because we're showcasing two really good jumps races on a Saturday in the metropolitan area and the fields are just as exciting," Smerdon said.
"Why do I enjoy these days so much? It's because I've ridden over the jumps, I've trained some great horses to be very successful over them and I just think that they have a very special place in our industry.
"In fact, if you go overseas and see the huge following that jumps racing has, especially in Europe, you'd think again about it. And we are the benefactors of those horses sent to Australia from Europe to win the Cups or even minor cups and don't quite measure up, they still are the backbone to our jumps races today."
Smerdon will hope to win yet another Australian hurdle with his imported stayer Arch Fire.
But the trainer believes that jumps races are not established to "wring out the last of a racehorse on the flat and then say could we get a quid out of him over the jumps".
"Go to Ireland and they stage more jumps races than flat and their horses are bred, reared and trained to jump. They enjoy it and it's part of their upbringing," Smerdon said.
"And we are starting to think that way. Mike Symons (Melbourne Racing Club chairman) said to me a few years ago with one of his horses, 'let's start him off at a young age instead of waiting until he's a veteran'. Some Are Bent was schooling at three (years old) and started jumping at four and was still jumping at eight and nine.
"And that should be our philosophy, not an afterthought, let's mix it up."
He was joined in his belief that jumps races should continue in Australia by the all-conquering Darren Weir.
"It has a very special place in our industry. Jumping must continue. It's important for so many in the game and trust me it has a strong and solid following," Weir said.
On Saturday at Sandown he will have the short-priced favourite, Renew, in the Australian Hurdle. And while his jumper will clash with Smerdon's, both trainers are convinced that the sport must be kept going and supported by the rank and file in the industry.
Renew is the $2.40 favourite to win the hurdle despite being beaten by over 14 lengths at Flemington last Saturday on the flat.
Weir puts that inglorious performance down to the hardness of the Flemington track last week.
Weir said he'd worked with the horse during the week and was happy to see him take his place in one of the major jumps races of the year.
