Randwick preview: Matthew Smith’s gelding Winston Hills resumed with a stylish win and is ready to keep progressing through the grades

Trainer Matthew Smith has taken it very slowly with promising gelding Winston Hills who is out to build on his record with a win at Randwick.

Lightly-raced gelding Winston Hills can bring up the hat-trick at Randwick. Picture: Bradley Photos

The legendary Bart Cummings once said ‘Patience is the cheapest thing in racing and the least used’.

Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith spent several years working for Cummings and has adopted that philosophy which he has used with great effect throughout his career.

One case in point is the progressive Winston Hills.

The son of Invader from a daughter of Group 1 winning mare Danglissa was purchased as a weanling from the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2020 for $45,000, the now five-year-old hasn’t finished worse than second in his five career starts.

“He is well bred and was a good sort as a weanling, a good type,” said Smith.

“We thought we would by him then and pay a lot less than what you have as a yearling.”

‼️BANG‼️

Winston Hills (INVADER) drops on his rivals and puts them to bed!

Stacked w/ ability, taking his record to 5 starts- 2 wins- 3 seconds, one of those behind Grp 1 winning Invader mare Sunshine In Paris..

There’s a lot more in stall..

Invader stands for $8,800 inc gst pic.twitter.com/n2P6RMvoG2

— Aquis Stallions (@AquisFarm) December 13, 2024

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

The gelding was runner-up in his first three starts in November 2022 before a long spell and resuming with a maiden win at Kembla on January 20 this year before going back to the paddock.

He resumed this campaign with a barnstorming win from Lancaster Bomber at Canterbury on December 13 and that patience can be rewarded further as he chases a hat-trick in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) at Randwick.

“He is a really nice actually and he will take beating again,” said Smith.

“I would have preferred to see him go up to 1400 metres actually but this race popped up and I thought we would give it a shot.

“He was really good at Canterbury first-up.

“He has come on nicely. His work has been good and he looks well. I can’t fault him.

“We will just take him through his grades and try and get a full preparation out of him”

Grey gelding Floating has had a long but successful campaign and is one of the leading chances again when lines up in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m).

The six-year-old was dominant winning the Listed ATC Cup from Converge and Townsend over 2000m at Rosehill two starts back before a fifth to Kadavar over 2400m in the Listed Christmas Cup.

🎈 Floating is too good for them in the Listed ATC Cup, and stakes win number 1 for @MollyBourke7! @mcsmithracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/Fka39qAUFe

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

“He’s had a good preparation this time in and has had a couple of wins,” Smith said.

“In the Christmas Cup, he just found himself in an awkward spot and he still ran fifth. His sectionals would have been good at the 2400 metres.

“From a good draw this week, he should be in a better position. Hopefully he can bounce and settle in the first four and we see what he can do.”

Frilled started her career with a bang, winning her first five starts but has placed just once in her next seven runs although she has been unlucky in a couple of them.

Smith is trying something different with her preparation for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) by sending her back to his Hunter Valley farm, Luskin Park, after her last run at Kembla when sixth to stablemate Headwall in the Group 3 The Warra in a bid to reset her campaign.

“She has always done the early part of her preps at the farm and then come down to Sydney.

“In her first two runs this preparation at Moonee Valley she was unlucky, especially the first one when Blake (Shinn) ride her. She should have won.

“We have tried to replicate that by getting her back to the farm

“Since she has gone back, she has done really well. She likes it up there.

“She can certainly win a race like this. She has been going well and deserves another win.”

LEES TO KEEP ALLIRI AT HOME AS SHE CHASES MAIDEN SUCCESS

Trainer Kris Lees has a couple of options at Randwick and Newcastle for Alliri but is leaning to running her on her home track and she strives to breakthrough for her maiden win.

Placed in all three starts, Alliri has drawn barrier 4 in the Maiden Plate at Randwick while she has gate 7 in the Provincial 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m) on the Beaumont.

“I think I will run her at Newcastle,” said Lees.

“She has is knocking on the door and this looks a suitable option for her.

“Being a provincial maiden, it probably makes the decision a little bit easier. It just looks the softer of the two options.

“She is a filly with a nice pedigree so we want to take a win where we can hopefully get one.”

In the same race, Lees has well-bred The Final Say on debut.

Alinea holds on to win at Randwick!@RachelK11 | @GaiWaterhouse1 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/XEopI4xG05

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 6, 2024

The daughter of Astern is from the family of Group 1-winning siblings Bonanova, Telesto and Fraternity.

“She is a nice filly but will need the run.” he said.

“I expect she will come on from the experience and be better as she gets out over a little further ground.”

Lees’ only other runner on his home track for the day is Lights Of Paradise in the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).

The lightly-raced four-year-old is coming off a big all-the-way win over 1200m at Tuncurry.

“It was a pretty soft win in the end at Tuncurry. Obviously, she meets a much stronger grade now.

“It appears 1350m will be ideal second run in. She is certainly progressing in the right direction.

“She has drawn barrier 1 so that should give her a chance.”

Lees will still be heading to Sydney where he has Rustic Steel and Tavi Time in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m).

“They are both on trial at the trip and I’m looking forward to giving both horses a chance over the journey,” he said.

“Rustic Steel should get up in speed from the draw and he isn’t in too bad at the weight.

“You can make a case he should have finished closer in The Ingham.

“As for Tavi Time, I’m looking forward to see him run down in the weights. He has been carrying bights his last couple.

“He just needs to switch off early to give himself a chance to run out the trip.”