NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Racing

Racing: Smart Dragon could fire up day at Matamata

By Mike Dillon
NZ Herald·
23 Mar, 2018 04:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Seventh Up is a chance in the Matamata feature today. Photo / Race Images

Seventh Up is a chance in the Matamata feature today. Photo / Race Images

In 30 years practically nothing has trumped the Golden Slipper. Winx does today.

They will pack into Slipper Day at Rosehill this afternoon to see racing's lighthouse attempt a further world record 17 Group 1s in the A$1 million George Ryder. Wow. The beauty is Winx doesn't care whether it rains or not - her only dislike is very firm footing and the expected footing for today is in the soft range.

Just what it will be at Matamata today for the transferred Tauranga programme we will know more about at late morning or very early afternoon, but it was a dead 6 yesterday and we will proceed on that basis.

Provided the footing is decent Italian bred Smart Dragon is a good way to start the day, but the warning is that his European form falls away when it rains. He flew home into fourth in his New Zealand debut run at Ellerslie and should strip a very fit horse for this race provided conditions suit. To his advantage he has drawn No 1 and gets first use of the track. If it rains switch to August Edition, who will relish the 3kg Kate Cowan takes off his back.

Pierrocity (No8, R2) might have publicly expected to perform after a three and a half month break, but trainer Stephen Marsh is certain she is a much better filly as a result of that run. She has a decent share of ability and looks well placed in this race. A few chances here and Madam Woo (No10) and Lady Shabeel (No7) are among them.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Blue Breeze (No5, R3) deserves a win, particularly after her good third behind Richie McHorse and Major Tom in a strong field at Ellerslie last time. She should get the run of the race from her inside gate. Splendido (No7) is a value runner and Madam Woo (No12) is a double acceptor and a real participant if started here in preference to Race 2.

Weight will go close to deciding Race 4. If this was level weights Yearn (No1) would be the $2.50 favourite. But the 60kg topweight is a touch frightening, particularly when she has to concede good chances like Indecision (No9) and Save The Date (No7) a huge 6kg. She only has to give the very much in-form Rikki Tikki Tavi (No3) 2kg, but that doesn't rule the latter out. Very interesting race.

It was no surprise Richie McHorse (No4, R5) got the chocolates at Ellerslie last start. We were confident when he was having his first start this preparation at a middle distance and came out of an inside gate. He gets the same scenario here and rates very highly this afternoon. Look to Lovelight (No6) to do a lot better than when finishing back in the Richie McHorse race last time. She came out of gate No15 in that race and that's generally suicide at Ellerslie. This time she starts from much closer to the inside running rail. Battle Royal (No3) and Infinite Joy (No10) for the multiple bets.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In keeping with the type of race, you can make a case for half a dozen runners in Race 6, the $100,000 Windsor Park Stud Japan International Trophy. Stablemates Coldplay (No4) and Nicoletta (No14) are very strong chances as are another stablemate pair Thee Auld Floozie (No3) and Ruud Not Too (No9). Then you have last week's winner Seventh Up (No1). Very tough, but gun to the head we will go for Coldplay each way provided conditions do not deteriorate too much.

Destiny's Child (No10, R7) looks a very progressive mare. She overcame difficulties to win at Ellerslie last time and would not have to do much better to go close in this. Endean Express (No11) may not be an everyday horse, but one of her better runs would put her right in this. Mihaul (No7) for multiple bettors.

As of late yesterday there were no scratchings for the A$600,000 Rosehill Guineas, which trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will be disappointed with if nothing comes out this morning, allowing their first emergency Mongolian Marshal into the field.

The partners have made no secret that they rate Mongolian Marshal at least as good as Vin de Dance and Mission Hill.

Discover more

Racing

Oliver aims for double grand slam in Slipper

23 Mar 04:00 PM
Racing

Hugh Bowman backs Winx in Ryder

23 Mar 04:00 PM
Racing

Gibbs goes solo with Guineas hopeful

23 Mar 04:00 PM
Racing

Racing: Emperor eyes Singapore

24 Mar 04:00 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Racing

RacingUpdated

Punters should be on weather watch ahead of Rotorua feature

08 May 05:00 PM
Racing

Shortest way home the key to Group 1 glory at The Park

08 May 05:00 PM
Racing

‘Over the moon’: Kennedy scores double-up at Ellerslie

07 May 05:00 PM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Racing

Punters should be on weather watch ahead of Rotorua feature

Punters should be on weather watch ahead of Rotorua feature

08 May 05:00 PM

It is that time of the year when the weather forecast becomes as important as race form.

Shortest way home the key to Group 1 glory at The Park

Shortest way home the key to Group 1 glory at The Park

08 May 05:00 PM
‘Over the moon’: Kennedy scores double-up at Ellerslie

‘Over the moon’: Kennedy scores double-up at Ellerslie

07 May 05:00 PM
Racing superstars promise music and words for top Kiwi trainers

Racing superstars promise music and words for top Kiwi trainers

07 May 05:00 PM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP