Beyond the racetrack

Awesome Cullect (Gotta Go Cullect) or “Smarty” was bred and trained in Australia by the Mallia family. After an impressive harness racing career, he was retrained under saddle by Lauren Tritton, who, together with her husband Shane, runs Tritton Harness Racing Team. As a show horse, he has won several championship titles at the Sydney Royal Show and is now making a name for himself in the States.

Tracey and Tony Mallia train Standardbreds in Australia. Smarty was one of their homebred horses, and they quickly knew he was something special. When he was a colt, Tracey’s grandson, Brodi, gave him the name “Smarty” for his affable personality.

Lauren Tritton grew up equestrian riding with her mother in Australia and was introduced to harness racing through friends. As a driver, she has raced in three different countries: Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. She currently has 28 horses in training but had 93 horses at one stage back in Australia. She won the international monte trot under saddle and backed it up with a group 1 win in the bike the next race. She was also the first woman to win the battle of Lake Erie in Ohio and was the first woman to compete in the Meadowlands Pace.

“My goal is to continue our operation as a family, stay happy, make dreams come true, and keep inspiring women to be the best they can,” Lauren says.

As a pacer, Smarty showed great promise, and broke a track record in his first outing as a two-year-old. Unfortunately, two weeks later he experienced an incomplete slab fracture of his knee. As a shockwave therapist, Tracey personally treated Smarty until, miraculously, his X-ray was clear. He raced for five more years after his recovery.

He was then sent to Lauren and Shane Tritton in Sydney.

“It was there that Smarty’s unique personality and love for cones, balls, and rug fronts emerged,” Tracey Mallia says. “While still a stallion, his connection with Lauren blossomed, and she proposed the idea of him joining her show team. He not only competed but also emerged victorious. Following his success at the Sydney Royal, he returned home to be gelded and then went back to Sydney as a show gelding prospect. The belief in Smarty’s potential in the show ring with Lauren aboard was well-founded, as they worked tirelessly to become an exceptional team.”

In 2020, Lauren Tritton and her husband decided to move their family to the United States. “We couldn’t do any more in Australia,” Lauren Tritton says. “We were winning the most races, and we weren’t making enough money so we looked at the American racing style and realized they race for three or four times the amount of money because its generated from casinos. So, we said goodbye to our family and relocated with 14 horses to New York with no plans to come home.”

“While several horses accompanied them, Smarty couldn’t make the journey due to the prohibitive plane fare,” Tracey Mallia says. “We received a lot of support from friends, family, and fans. After four lease homes and 1,410 days apart, Smarty and Lauren were finally reunited in New York. Their story serves as a brilliant example of off-the-track standardbreds creating a fulfilling life after racing.”

“Smarty had so much of a fan base because he did things Standardbreds haven’t been associated with before,” Lauren Tritton says. “He was the first standardbred in a long time to win the most prestigious horse show in Australia. I’m thankful to Tracey and Tony for giving me the opportunity to have a horse like Smarty.”

“Lauren and Smarty have a unique relationship,” Tracey Mallia says. “Nobody has been able to ride him the way Lauren does. I think Smarty serves as an ambassador for the importance of retraining to give racehorses a life after racing. Just because he’s a pacer does not mean he can’t be something else.”

“Smarty enjoys the snow,” Lauren Tritton says. “Showing is different in the United States, but I’m quite happy and confident he’ll be venturing out with all breeds of horses.”

“I believe Smarty’s story is not only a testament to the resilience of these incredible animals but also highlights the often-overlooked post-racing lives of these majestic creatures and the meaningful relationships formed between them and their handlers,” Tracey Mallia says. “Watching their journey unfold from a distance was truly worth every penny spent. Life after racing in the USA has brought new adventures for Smarty and Lauren.”

Smarty is currently training in dressage and will step out in the arena in March. He will compete at the Standardbred national show in September. Check out Smarty’s Facebook page to follow along on his journey.

by Nicolle Kain, for Harnesslink