2 days ago
11
Craig Kerry
May 28, 2026 — 5:00pm
Matt Smith felt sick watching a replay of the Gosford Cup.
Now he hopes a change in fortune for Portland on Saturday in the Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill can make him feel better about a frustrating preparation and provide a solid foundation for the spring.
The Warwick Farm trainer felt import Portland was “just ready to win” at Gosford after drawing well in gate three and a first Australian campaign filled with strong finishes from back in the field.
The Dubawi five-year-old landed fourth on the fence but when the runaway leader set a hot early pace, the spot became “no-man’s land” at the front of the pack before the swoopers took the spoils late and he finished sixth.
“It started out all right because he had the opportunity not to be out the back on him, but he just ended up in the wrong spot,” Smith said.
“When we wanted to get a spot [in previous starts], we didn’t draw a gate.
“But all of his runs have been excellent and you just think this horse is ready to win.
“It would be nice if he could knock this race over and have a little break. It would make it a good first prep because really the only poor performance was last start and there were reasons for that.
“He’s still acclimatising, he’s not there yet. I think this prep will have him right for the next one.”
Portland ($10) faces a tricky draw on Saturday in 12, but Smith welcomed the likely chance on wet ground. Winona Costin picks up the ride from Kerrin McEvoy, who will be at Eagle Farm.
“He definitely wants a wet track,” Smith said.
“I don’t know about a really heavy track, but I’m sure a soft or a normal heavy, he will be really good on it.”
Glastonbury Girl (13) and Anythink Goes (12) also face awkward draws at Rosehill, in races five and six respectively.
“The barrier gods aren’t with me this week,” he said.
Glastonbury Girl is a nice filly. Her work through the whole preparation has been fantastic but the draw makes it difficult.
“Anythink Goes, his run at Gosford the other day was good. He was never any chance from the gate, I guess, but he was finding the line. His work has been good and 1500 is all right.”
His biggest blow at the barrier draws this week came with Beauty Swift ($26), which will come out of the second-widest gate in the group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Beauty Swift was strong through the line when second in the Rough Habit Plate last start and is heading to Hong Kong after Saturday.
Smith also has Lyles racing at Eagle Farm, in the second, after scratching him at a rain-hit Randwick last Saturday.
“We pulled the right rein there,” he said.
“Hopefully we get a better track for him. He’s going good and it’s a nice race for him if it’s not too wet.”
