How soon is Nowra: Smith’s pair primed to grab winning double

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By John Schell

October 18, 2025 — 5.00pm

Warwick Farm conditioner Matthew Smith has high hopes of snaring a winning double when he sends two runners to Nowra on Sunday.

Smith enjoyed success at his home track last Wednesday, when Golden Straand won impressively, and at Randwick yesterday, where Idle Flyer took out the Angst Stakes. He is out to maintain that form when Cool Rupert lines up in the Turfco Vale Rob Powell Super Maiden Plate (1400m) and Can’t Touch This contests the AIS Certifiers Mollymook Cup – Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m).

Jockey Mitchell Bell will ride both of Smith’s runners, and the trainer expects both to perform well.

“Cool Rupert is lightly raced with just the two starts to his name and he has run really well in both of them,” said Smith.

“They’ve both been at Kembla Grange and he followed a second on debut with a third there at his second start. He hit the line well from back in the field last time out and went down in a photo finish. Mitchell Bell was on him in that race and is happy to stick with him at Nowra.”

Can’t Touch This has had nine starts and has two wins to her name.

“She’s a nice mare by Flying Artie and she won well in a small field at Kembla Grange back in August,” Smith said.

“She was down the track a bit in a couple of runs after that win at Kembla, but she showed a return to somewhere near her best when she ran fifth at Kembla at her latest start.

“She found the line OK in that event and was beaten less than two and a half lengths. She’s got the inside gate at Nowra so she should get every chance from that draw.”

Fellow Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli will have one runner in action at Nowra with Star Legacy lining up in the Bede Murray Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).

Star Legacy has only won twice from 32 starts but has had 13 placings. He was midfield when finishing sixth at Kembla Grange at his latest start. Apprentice Coriah Keatings takes the ride on Star Legacy at Nowra.

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au