Canterbury preview: Matthew Smith has added incentive for debutant to salute

Trainer Matthew Smith is both eager and proud to unveil the first Australian runner sired by his beloved triple Group 1 winner Fierce Impact at Canterbury on Friday night.

There will be no prouder man at Canterbury on Friday night than trainer Matthew Smith if his two-year-old debutant Fierceness can kick his career off with a win.

As the name suggests, Fierceness is a son of Smith’s iron-horse, triple Group 1 winner Fierce Impact.

Fittingly, Smith has the honour of saddling up the son of Deep Impact’s first Australian runner.

Fierce Impact is already off the mark as a stallion courtesy of his first New Zealand runner, Zelia who had earlier won a trial by 15 lengths.

Adding to the occasion is that Smith-bred Fierceness, sending the Victorian-based stallion his own former speed demon, Rebel Miss, not once but twice now.

Such is Smith’s imprint on Fierceness is that he trained his sire, his dam and her father (Krupt) as well as Fierceness’ grandam (Marju Rani) and all over foals.

Fierce Impact retired with earnings of over $2m with a CV that saw him mix and match it with the best horses of his era.

“He was a bloody ripper,’’ Smith said.

“I wouldn’t mind a few more like him.

“He was a really tough horse and he had plenty of speed. He was really good around seven furlongs (1400m) and a mile (1600m).

“He raced on too, he won those Group 1s when he was six so he was obviously very sound.’’

That’s a trait it seems Fierce Impact has passed down to his offspring.

“His progeny have such good temperaments on them,’’ Smith said.

“They just want to please you.

“They’re such racehorses. The breakers love them.’’

Trainer Matthew Smith will saddle up the son of his Group 1 winner Fierce Impact for his debut at Canterbury on Friday night. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Fierceness’ looked every bit a genuine racehorse himself in back to back trials this month, both of them placings.

“Fierceness is definitely going to be better around seven furlongs or a mile. I think that will be his trip and he might even be better with blinkers on him but we haven’t done any of that yet,’’ Smith said.

“It’s a just a good starting point for him and 1200m should be ideal.

“He’ll just get better with a bit of racing. He’s just learning but he is a really nice little horse.’’

Fierceness has been dealt some luck early in his career, gifted barrier one for Friday’s ATC TAB Plate (1200m).

“That’s perfect for a two-year-old having its first race, you’ve got the rail,’’ Smith said.

“There’s plenty of upside.’’

Smith will have a long wait in between races tonight.

Fierceness is timed to go at six o’clock whereas his stablemate Divine Vicky isn’t required until nine when she lines up in the weekly feature Kia Evening Star (1100m).

“She will run well second-up and she’ll be better again once she gets that run under her belt,’’ Smith said.

“I am happy with where she is up to.’’

Divine Vicky is a daughter of the 10-time Group 1 winner So You Think.

Her fifth dam is by the legendary racehorse Citation who came in number three behind Secretariat and Man O’War in the blood-horse magazine Top 100 races of the 20th Century.

Show ‘Em Howl’s chance to roar in ‘big task’

Robert Agnew has 14 horses on his books - eight in work and four of those in at Taree - but most of all he could have two in the impending Country Championships Qualifier after Friday.

Pony Soprano - Agnew’s grandson of former bonny Victorian mare Tickle My - ostensibly booked his berth in the Port Macquarie Heat on February 15 with a narrow but brave win at that same venue last Friday.

Now it is over to his similarly lightly-raced stablemate Show ‘Em Howl to take one more giant leap in his brief but spectacular career when he lines up in today’s Country Championships Preview (1250m).

“He needs to win or run second to be in the (Qualifier),’’ said Agnew.

“It’s a big ask and a big task. He is a very immature horse but he is loaded with ability.

“He has no idea what he is out there for yet. He’s 12 months away, but I just feel he is going to win too many races between now and then, so this is his only chance to be in a Championship.’’

There are many far more experienced horses in Friday’s virtual Championships dress rehearsal, but few if any in the field can match Show ‘Em Howl’s wow factor.

The son of the now Indonesia-based stallion Showtime has won both starts in 2025; drawing the outside barrier each time.

In total contrast this time around, Agnew’s gelding will jump from the inside alley in the capacity field.

“If he is midfield or a little bit better and he is on the bunny and gets daylight and does what he has been doing, I think he does put them away,’’ Agnew said.

“But it is a very big jump.

“If he does put them away, in my opinion, he's going to be a very, very smart horse and I would say he’d have to be considered a threat to the heat.

“Horses don’t do what he is doing and how he is doing it. If it was to be three in a row going from a maiden to a 58 to a Class 4 — you’d have to respect him.’’

Show ‘Em Howl has done more than enough to showcase Agnew’s skill as a trainer but also underlines his skill as a buyer, given he secured the Racing To Win and Classique Legend relation for just $5,000 at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale in Victoria in 2023.

Originally published as Canterbury preview: Matthew Smith has added incentive for debutant to salute