Smashing Goes All the Way

The Informant reports:

Smashing capped a stellar day at Matamata on Saturday for Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards with an all-the-way win in the $40,000 Westbury Waikato Handicap.

The local conditioners saddled Summer Monsoon for an eye-catching second in the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper, then took out the Gr. 2 J Swap Matamata Breeders' Stakes with Gold Fever. Then it was over to Smashing, who capped a run of minor placings with a deserved win.

Cameron Lammas took advantage of the inside gate and sent Smashing straight to the front in the 1200-metre race, then dictated terms from there in an uncontested lead.

After straightening for home the classy mare kicked clear and was full of running as Passing Shot, Red Striker and Volks Lightning tried to run her down. There was no stopping Smashing, who held on by a length and clocked a smart time of 1:09.12.

“We've had a good day and we're very pleased with that,” Autridge said. “This mare drew well today, so she was always going to be in front and hard to get past.

“Cameron Lammas rides her most of the time and gets on great with her. This was a hot field, but she's not far off her best now and with everything in her favour they were going to know that she was there.”

Lammas has now had 10 rides on Smashing for four wins and three placings.

Bred and part-owned by Trelawney Stud's Taylor family, Smashing is by Pins out of Trelawney's dual Group Two winner Ruud Van Slaats. The speedy mare has now had 18 starts for six wins, five placings and more than $90,000 in stakes.

A black-type win is one of the few things missing from Smashing's resume, with the mare's best result being a third in last year's Listed Lightning Handicap at Trentham. That race, to be run on March 18, is likely to be on her agenda again this season.