Trainer Matt Smith has been responsible for a number of significant-priced placegetters recently, but he states he cannot recall training a Saturday metropolitan winner at odds longer than the $101 offered for Alice Mae.
Given minimal chance by the punters, the mare pushed her way clear from her midfield position and made a determined run down the outside to win the B&J Guttering & Metal Roofing Handicap (1800m) by three-quarters of a length from Shangri La Impact ($3.50).
Smith noted that while he has had horses like Dezignation finish second at $151 in the ATC Australian Derby behind Green Spaces, he cannot remember a runner of his winning at triple-figure odds.
“That might be the first. But I’ve had a run of 100-1 shots running second and third in the last twelve months, so it’s good to get one up,” Smith said.
“It was a bit of a shock, but we’ll take it.”
This was Alice Mae’s seventh start of the preparation at Randwick, during her first campaign under Smith’s tutelage.
While the victory was not anticipated, Smith mentioned that he did expect a competitive showing, as the five-year-old mare had been improving and required time to build her fitness.
“It was just a matter of getting the miles into her,” Smith explained.
“She’s an older mare, and she has taken a while to get fit.
“She has never had a staying preparation before. We’re training her differently to what she would have been trained previously, and we’re giving her a chance to get over a bit of ground.”
Smith was also pleased with the run of stablemate Hammoon Heroine, who finished sixth, and commented that she would be a horse to follow when she is stepped up to longer distances.
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