Lightly-raced sprinter Headwall headlines two-pronged Matt Smith attack in The Warra

A brilliant winner last start, trainer Matt Smith is hoping Headwall can double the dose in The Warra on Saturday. 

Matthew Smith will saddle up two contenders in The Warra. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Trainer Matt Smith is confident if all the cards fall into place his emerging sprinter Headwall will take plenty of holding out late in Saturday’s Group 3 $300,000 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.

Smith has his sights firmly set on a late spring carnival raid with Headwall which will be joined by talented stablemate Frilled in the sprint feature on The Gong day.

Headwall has earned his first crack in stakes grade after building an excellent record of five wins and six placings from 12 starts.

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The speedy sprinter showed what he can do when it all goes to plan last start, rattling home from off the speed to salute at Royal Randwick on Big Dance day.

“When it all works out for him, he’s pretty good,” Smith said.

Headwall scoring for trainer Matt Smith. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I reckon he’s not a bad horse and when the conditions are right, he is strong through the line.

“He will be ridden pretty much the same he was the other day (from barrier 11).

“He will relax and have a big finish.”

Rain affected conditions would provide a further boost to Headwall’s chances with Blake Spriggs booked to ride this weekend.

Stablemate Frilled is back in her home state after campaigning without a lot of luck in Melbourne throughout this preparation.

The daughter of Star Witness, a winner of five of her 11 starts, can make the most of a good draw in barrier six with Jason Collett aboard.

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“Frilled will be up on the speed somewhere, I don’t think she will be in front but just somewhere in behind them if she can,” Smith said.

“She might be outside the lead if she can jump but she just doesn’t jump that quickly.

“She was unlucky in the 955m (three starts ago) and to be fair to her, nothing went right the next race but she’s only been beaten two lengths in a stakes race at Flemington last start.

“It wasn’t a bad run but you have to do things right when you get up in this grade and she is difficult enough because she just wants to jump and go.”

Frilled will also run in The Warra for Matt Smith Picture: Michael Klein

Headwall is on the third line of betting at $6 behind Godolphin’s Fleetwood ($5) and the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Hedged ($3.90 favourite) while Frilled is $13.

Smith had considered giving recent Listed winner Way To The Stars his chance in The Warra but elected to spell the gelding following his last start success at Flemington.

Originally published as Lightly-raced sprinter Headwall headlines two-pronged Matt Smith attack in The Warra