Matt Smith is ever patient in his approach with thoroughbreds, and he won’t be rushing Aethelwulf, despite the promising stayer making a clear statement with his facile win at Canterbury.
Having just his fifth start and first in city grade, Aethelwulf ($1.26 fav) cruised to a five length victory over Forbidden Riff ($14) in Wednesday’s Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1900m) to earn an immediate rise to Saturday grade.
Smith had concerns pre-race that the tight Canterbury circuit wouldn’t suit the four-year-old, but those fears proved unfounded as his class shone through.
“He’s a big baby but he’s got a motor. He handled (Canterbury) well,” Smith said.
“Once you get one-off (the fence), your worries are over. You just find a nice rhythm and find that gait where they’re comfortable.
“He’s going places, isn’t he?”
AETHELWULF makes a mess of his rivals, saluting at the short quote at Canterbury for @mcsmithracing & @ZacLloydx! 🤯@aus_turf_club @racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/6Ffu87zgFk
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2026
Smith confirmed Aethelwulf would be stepped up in distance and class with a Saturday metropolitan race over 2000 metres next on his hit list.
The horse was briefly considered as a potential Derby contender after finishing runner-up on debut at Goulburn in December, but that dream was snuffed out by his immaturity.
“I liked him, and I was wondering if he’d get there, but after that race he fell apart a bit, so we just put him away,” Smith said.
“He only had one run, and he was just backward.”
Chris Waller also unveiled an exciting late-bloomer in Snitzel four-year-old Phantom Major, who stormed home from the back to win the Schweppes Handicap (1200m) at just his second start.
In a sign of the esteem in which he’s held, he remains an entire, and Waller will look to link him into the early carnival races.
“The owners wouldn’t let me geld him because they think he’s got quite a bit of ability. So we’ll just try to keep building his value,” Waller said.
“It’s the right time of the year to be joining in. He would be taking on some of the better horses with a run under his belt.”
Phantom Major ($5) denied the Smith-trained Queen’s Gamble ($3.90) by 1-1/2 lengths, giving Waller and jockey James McDonald the first leg of an early double with Godolphin mare Glissando saluting 35 minutes later.
