OUR STORY

Matthew paid his way to Ireland to work with trainers in England and Ireland before taking up an opportunity to work with Aidan O’Brien at what was an integral juncture in the Irishman’s career. Matthew followed Aidan as he progressed from being the country’s leading jumps trainer to reigniting Ireland’s most famous stable, Ballydoyle.

Initially a track rider, Matthew quickly progressed through the ranks to become Aidan’s Assistant Trainer, working alongside his quietly spoken mentor for two and a half years as Ballydoyle emerged as the world’s premier racing stable.

The opportunity to learn a new style of racehorse preparation in the United States proved tempting and Matthew elected to continue his education as Assistant Trainer for Niall O’Callaghan. With O’Callaghan constantly moving between stables in different states Matthew was left to manage a string of 30 horses and staff and revelled in the challenge. Hard work bore results and horses under Matthew’s care competed at the showpiece Breeders’ Cup meeting.

Before Matthew’s two years in America had come to a close he was offered the post as the Stable Foreman for Australia’s Hall of Fame trainer, Bart Cummings. For almost five years Matthew worked alongside Bart as a Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup, Doncaster Handicap and a string of other Group One events were plundered.

With almost a decade of international and local experience behind him Matthew decided the time was right to open his own training establishment.

Matthew’s wife Melissa is an accomplished horse woman in her own right. Having grown up on a property in Walcha, on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, it was only natural that much of her youth was spent on or around horses. Extensive competition in gymkhanas and at shows across the state was a precursor to her being crowned the Champion Girl Rider at the Sydney Royal Easter Show at the age of just 17.

Melissa continued to show horses before taking up the opportunity to work for some of Japan’s leading trainers in Hokkaido. However, Australia came calling with Melissa returning to take up the mantle as Marketing Manager of William Inglis and Son where she played a significant role in the company’s growth for five years before joining Matthew full time.

Matthew and Melissa Smith have worked tirelessly to prepare themselves for running a world class racing stable by learning off the most astute trainers from around the globe.

Together, Matthew and Melissa have ensured that Matthew C. Smith Racing has made an immediate impact. A string of promising performers have emerged among his regular city winners and none more so than Krupt, a leading elect for the 2008 Golden Slipper.

Selected and purchased by Matthew on behalf of clients, Krupt quickly announced himself as one of Australia’s most promising young racehorses by winning the Group 2 Todman Stakes and being lauded as the horse to beat in the world’s richest juvenile event. However, the emergence of a stone bruise on race morning was a devastating blow for the stable and he had to be scratched.

The game filly Hurtle Myrtle has emerged in Krupt’s absence and is regarded as one of the nation’s premier three-year-olds. The filly, who was selected and purchased by Matthew for $55,000 and offered for syndication among clients, has made light of her price tag and looks destined to continue to stable’s run of stakes success.