Matthew C. Smith Racing - A Filly Owners Dream

Matthew Smith pursued his training career in Ballydoyle, Ireland where his mentor, Aidan O'Brien, had only recently been appointed private trainer for the all-powerful Coolmore racing operation.



Aidan, since then, has a sterling reputation for training winners of any gender after reaching a landmark of over 50 Royal Ascot winners this season.

The Aussie was full of ambition but was lacking experience, yet quickly his hard work and dedication helped him climb the ladder from being a trackwork rider to becoming assistant trainer for the Ballydoyle powerhouse.

Smith hung on O'Brien's every word but what the Irishman said to him one morning at the gallops was the complete opposite to what he had expected and always believed.

"Every trainer starting out wants to get a good one to help get their business going but Aidan told me he had a couple of very good horses when he first began training and stuffed them up," explained Smith.

"Looking back on it, I don't think Aidan meant it in any other way except that experience will help you handle a good horse. "

Matthew has based his training methods on these wise thoughts from the Irish Maestro, along with tuition from leading trainer Niall O' Callaghan (USA) and the legend of the Australian Racehorse industry that is Bart Cummings.

In the years since taking out his licence Matthew has proved this with some impeccable training performances through the years, especially with his fillies and mares including:

Cabernet - "He knows how to handle a good horse" as he proved getting Cabernet as a six year-old and getting her back to winning form in the Listed Summoned Stakes at Sandown in 2012.

To the relief of the owners of Cabernet, she had finally broken through at stakes level after 21 starts, something she could not achieve with her previous trainer.

Combat Kitty - Combat Kitty was purchased at the Magic Millions sale by Matthew and Melissa for $150,000.

With a win on her debut as a two year old by an impressive eight lengths at Kembla Grange, Combat Kitty went on to run a fast finishing second to multiple stakes winner, Kurata Queen in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, before travelling to the Melbourne Spring Carnival as a 3YO to win at Listed level.

She concluded her race career by winning connections nearly $450,000 in prizemoney.

Her first foal, a colt by Stratum, sold this year at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $140,000, not surprisingly, purchased by Matthew and Melissa.

Hurtle Myrtle - A filly by Dane Shadow out of a Woodman mare called Ravenswood, was purchased at the 2008 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $55,000.

Although she may have not been a sensational two year old, Matthew stuck by her side and sure enough Hurtle broke her maiden as two year old beating multiple stakes winner, Little Surfer Girl, by a nose at Canterbury in 2009.

She went on to win almost three quarters of a million dollars including wins in the VRC Myer Classic Gr1, Sapphire Stakes Gr2 and Dane Ripper Stakes Gr2

She was retired and sent to the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in 2012, where she netted her owners another $1 million.

Faraway Town

We, as a team at Matthew Smith Racing continue to challenge ourselves every day.

We invite all owners to contact us if you are thinking about buying a racehorse, putting a racehorse in training or changing your racehorse's stable for a freshen up.

The results we've had with fillies and mares have been consistent and successful.

Whether it be a yearling looking to start off on the right foot or an older mare needing a change of scenery, we can cater for you! Plus, you know what they say, if you can train a tricky filly to win, then you can most certainly train a colt!

Without our clients, none of the above that we have illustrated could be possible.

We started our journey with a small number of horses in training.

We have expanded each year since we established our training facility at Warwick Farm and we continue to strive for further success.