Racing: Owner's top return on investment

My Astron (outer) beats Sir Slick and Occidentalis in the First Sovereign Trust Japan Trophy on Saturday. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Kane Smith didn't bother celebrating his biggest win in racing on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old jockey was in his car and driving back to Palmerston North within two hours of winning the $150,000 Japan/NZ International Trophy on My Astron.

He might save a quiet celebration for his 32nd birthday on Thursday.

"I'm a bit of a family man these days," said a relaxed Smith yesterday.

"I've got a 2-year-old son Mitchell and I'd rather be at home with him than out celebrating."

Smith did his immediate celebrating punching the air one stride after My Astron flashed over the finish just ahead of Sir Slick and Occidentalis.

"At group two level that was my biggest win."

Trainer Kelly Burne was so overcome she could barely speak to the press as she waited for the horses to return to the birdcage and owner Peter Evans couldn't stop smiling.

You can't blame him for that - he picked up the $91,750 winner's cheque with a horse he paid $3000 for as a weanling.

No one was interested in My Astron at the Ready To Run sales so Evans kept him to race himself.

And there may be more for this trio and their horse.

They have gone from handicap class at Ellerslie to a group two win at Tauranga and now it's back to Ellerslie for the group one $200,000 Easter Mile on April 11.

Smith knew the 5-year-old My Astron had hit his career best form three starts back in a beaten performance at Palmerston North.

"I got trapped three wide on him and he was beaten a nose by Snowy River. You know when a horse is giving you 120 per cent and that day was the first time this horse has done that for me.

"I came back in and told Kelly that the horse had turned the corner."

That is underlined by the fact My Astron finished a terrific fourth to talented mare Culminate under unfavourable weight-for-age conditions at Otaki next start and has won his two races since.

Smith had to change his desired tactics on the horse on Saturday.

"I like to drop him back off the speed a bit, but with Sir Slick in the race there was no way we were going to be giving him a decent start.

"Watching the pattern of the earlier races you had to be in the first three rounding the home turn.

"We trailed Sir Slick and I had the choice of going up on his inside on the home bend, but I knew what would mean a dogfight with him and few horses get the better of Sir Slick doing that, which is why I hooked him out three wide."

That meant Smith had the massive Occidentalis between him and Sir Slick, who would not have seen him until the last few strides of the race.