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| Staff Writer |
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Matthew C. Smith would like to live in a world where he sleeps deeper into the morning. But thanks to the success of his Matthew C. Smith Racing Stable, there isn’t much room for rest. Smith’s team started picking up momentum last season, and the progress hasn’t slowed down. And 4YO Buenos Noches has Smith energised for work.
When Smith decided to pursue horse training as a career, he left no stone unturned in his pursuit of knowledge. He made his way to Ireland to work with the master of Ballydoyle himself, Aidan O’Brien.
Smith worked for O’Brien as an assistant trainer for 2 and ½ YO. He later went to the United States to continue his learning as an assistant trainer to multiple Graded Stakes winning trainer Niall O’Callaghan.
Smith and his wife, Melissa, started the Matthew C. Smith Racing Stable in 2011. The stable found success shortly after. And it didn't take long to begin picking up the big prizes. Group One-winning Dane Shadow mare, Hurtle Myrtle, was a winner of the Group One Myer Classic, Group Two Sapphire Stakes, and Group Two Dane Ripper.
The husband-and-wife duo have only continued to build their brand since then. Melissa Smith also had a strong training background. She was crowned Champion Girl Rider at the Sydney Royal Easter Show at age 17 and worked with some of Japan’s leading trainers in Hokkaido.
What allowed Smith to gain valuable insight was his willingness to learn. “Talk less, listen more,” said Smith about advice he would give up-and-coming trainers. “Work hard and soak up all the advice people are willing to give you.”
Smith’s horses have already seen incredible success this season, picking up 17 wins with a strike rate of 24 percent (at the time of print). And with the increased responsibilities and growing success, things in Smith’s household have started to heat up. There is a lot of work to do in order to scout the potential of future horses that can help build the stable’s reputation.
Smith said “I would just like to keep developing my training and to keep improving every year. And to find the next good horse.”
Smith’s stables produced 100 winners last season and have aspirations for more success this season. Over the past 12 months, Smith’s horses have won 12.6 percent of the races they’ve entered and placed in 36.2 percent.
Smith said. “You can’t train 100 winners without the support of good owners, and we are very lucky that we have had incredible support over the last couple of years. It will depend on numbers throughout the year, but I will definitely be aiming to top last year’s tally.”
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Buenos Noches is a horse that Smith hopes can increase his numbers. The seasoned conditioner has been pleased with how Buenos Noches has run so far this season and isn’t too worried about how he will handle the track at Randwick.
“He has come out of his first two runs in great shape and I think he can improve as we get into the preparation,” Smith said. “The track at Randwick is always very fair, and provided we get that consistent good track on the day, it will be fine.”
One thing that may be new for Buenos Noches is the increased attention that The Everest Race can bring. With the large amount of prize money and the increased attention, the race will bring in more interest in Buenos Noches from fans and media alike.
“My main focus is obviously to train the horse and keep him happy,” Smith said. “I fit in whatever I can in terms of social and media events, but my primary focus is always the horse.”
Buenos Noches has had a solid run of results. He nearly edged out The Everest Winner from 12 months ago Giga Kick, in the Danehill Stakes and placed behind In Secret at the Coolmore Stud Stakes. During Buenos Noches’ career, the horse has brought in A$661,400 in prize money. Buenos Noches has won 33 percent of the races he has competed in and placed 67 percent.
“He looks fantastic, his work has been very pleasing,” Smith said. “He is much bigger and stronger this preparation and hopefully that maturity will produce consistency in his racing.”
For the upcoming TAB Everest race, Smith said that Buenos Noches has had a training plan in place for six months. He doesn’t want to take any chances by changing things up.
Neither does he plan to try and push the son of Supido out of the Northern Meteor mare, Koi, too hard before The Everest.
“The horse’s preparation was mapped out over six months ago, so I am sticking to the program,” Smith said. “Everything has to go the right way to get into a race like The Everest, so we are reliant on good barriers and the right tracks.”
When Buenos Noches competes in The Everest, Smith believes that Buenos Noches’ race results this season have allowed him to be prepared for a step up in competition level. He also believes that the distance of the race is also right for Buenos Noches.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a top-class race, but based on his performances to date and getting back up to 1200m, I see no reason why he won’t be involved in the business end of things,” Smith said.
Smith confirmed star apprentice Dylan Gibbons will retain the ride on Buenos Noches in The Everest. "Dylan has gone to the next level in the last six months, he is riding like a senior and we wanted to have a jockey that could stick with the horse through the spring,'' Smith said.
"Once a jockey knows a horse, those little split-second decisions they have to make can be the difference between winning and losing these big races.''
He was chosen by the mighty TAB as a starter in the A$20m Everest at Royal Randwick next month after his fast-finishing third in The Shorts behind Private Eye and Overpass. "His run in The Shorts last week proved to me he is up with the best sprinters. I wasn't sure about him coming back in trip because those horses are very sharp but he held his own and sprinted home as well as anything in the race.
"He is better going to 1200m, his two runs at Randwick have been excellent and we are very excited to be running in The Everest. We have the right horse and a slot, we are in with a big chance,'' said Smith.
Tabcorp chief executive Adam Rytenskild said Buenos Noches "ticked every box". "We're really thrilled to have secured Buenos Noches for our TAB Everest slot,'' Rytenskild said. "His run last Saturday had a TAB Everest written all over it. Buenos Noches really has untapped potential and we've got no doubt he'll improve even further into the TAB Everest.''
Rytenskild said TAB has the benefit of using the insights of Australia's leading form analysts across the TAB and Sky Racing brands and there was a strong view that Buenos Noches will run a huge race.
"We're really looking forward to working with Matthew Smith who is an emerging trainer – we can't wait to build his profile and tell the Buenos Noches story across our platforms," Rytenskild said.
If Buenos Noches can continue to win and run strong races, Smith said they would be willing to listen to any offers that were presented. Going to the United States or some big-money races in Dubai wouldn’t be out of the question.
“Absolutely, we would love to travel abroad with him should the opportunity present itself,” Smith said. Smith is excited about future races with the horse that has 20 + owners. That excitement was easy for Smith to sum up in three words.
“Dream is alive,” Smith said.
Smith has other horses in his stable that will be productive in the future as well.
“Frilled is a very fast mare,” Smith said. “She is unbeaten at all of her public appearances (three races, four trials), and she broke the record at Kembla at her most recent start. Time Quest is a very talented import who will only get better with racing. French Endeavour is one to watch out for when she gets to a mile (runs on Saturday 30th September in the Gr.1 Darley Flight Stakes over 1600m). And Royal Robbins is another import who has had just one preparation here in Australia. He shows very good ability and one to keep an eye on next preparation.”
Smith hopes to pile up more victories as the season goes along. Topping last season’s output will be a tough challenge. However, Smith is looking for more than just spots on medal stands or large purses. He wants to see all of the horses be successful with the training plans available to them.
“We have to maintain consistency, which is to keep placing horses where they can win races,” Smith said.
There is no major secret to Smith’s success, he insists. When producing top-flight horses, it is a group effort for success.
“We have the right systems in place, and I have the right team around me doing a great job,” Smith said.
By Dean McHugh