By Ray Hickson
In the space of a few months, trainer Matthew Smith has seen a completely different side to Lyles and he hopes the gelding takes his new attitude into his first-up assignment at Rosehill today.
The three-year-old was beaten six lengths by Manos in an inglorious debut back in mid-October, but that’s not the horse that returned to Smith’s stable after a break.
Trainer Matthew Smith.Credit: Getty
On the back of two impressive trial wins, and with his more focused demeanour, there’s a sense of expectation from Smith ahead of the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m).
“He just needed a bit of time to work it out,” Smith said. “He was a nervous horse in his first preparation and was doing things wrong. He’s come back a bit bigger and stronger but moreso mentally he’s come back better. I really can’t fault him, he’s a nice horse in the making.”
Lyles has won both barrier trials by comfortable margins this time around and Smith said he was particularly pleased with how he travelled and then put his rivals away in the second of them.
With barrier one, he expects jockey Adam Hyeronimus to either lead or stalk the leader, and sees no reason why he won’t produce a similar performance on race day.
“I think I’m just seeing what everyone else is seeing,” he said. “He’s got a really good action, an efficient action, he’s a positive horse who likes to jump and travel and both his trials have been excellent
“He wasn’t doing that last time in, he was a bit all over the place, so it was good to see him put it all together and do things right.”
Stablemate Final Reset might be a five-year-old, but Smith said he’s another horse that has scope to improve from a mental perspective so he’s doing a good job to have won three of his 16 starts.
He was a winner over 2300m at Newcastle a month ago then ventured to Doomben and ran a close second over 2200m, he’ll drop 3kg into the TAB Handicap (2400m).
“He’s an improving stayer, he’ll run any trip so 2400m won’t be a problem for him,” Smith said.
Be Quiet makes some noise at Kembla Grange
Be Quiet broke through at Kembla Grange on Tuesday in what trainer Joe Pride would be hoping is an ominous win in the colours of stable star Ceolwulf. A four-year-old mare, Be Quiet led the 1000m maiden plate under Alysha Collett and was strong to the line for a one-and-a-half-length victory from stablemate Mission Gold. A $140,000 buy from the 2022 Karaka Ready to Run sales, Be Quiet broke her maiden first-up from a spell and at her sixth start. “I bought two horses, Ceolwulf and her, at the same sale,” Pride said. “The Ceolwulf owners have had a little bit more fun, but there’s similar owners in them, with the same colours. She’s a nice mare, and hopefully, she can go on with it from here.” Ceolwulf is a $3.70 Sportsbet chance for Saturday’s group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick.
Craig Kerry
Apocalyptic spelled, will miss Slipper
Golden Slipper second favourite Apocalyptic has been spelled because of immaturity and will miss the Sydney autumn carnival. Randwick trainer Michael Freedman notified Racing NSW stewards of the move following a poor trial on Monday, and the news was released on Tuesday. Tommy Berry rode Apocalyptic in the 1050m trial, easing her back over the final stages as she finished fifth. Freedman said the problem was “just immaturity … just have to wait for spring.” The Extreme Choice filly was a $9 Sportsbet second elect for the $5 million race for two-year-olds on March 22 at Rosehill before the news. The Chris Waller-trained Wodeton ($3.50) is the favourite.
Craig Kerry
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
