A prediction that Smiling Like would one day win a major race is the only reason she was not in the matrons' paddock when the New Zealand Cup was run.
Smiling Like is owned by top breeder Sir Patrick Hogan and his wife Justine. Sir Patrick said they purchased the horse 18 months ago and initially had no intention to continue racing her.
Smiling Like had been racing from the Hamilton stable of Keith Hawtin and Graeme Rogerson and Sir Patrick planned to mate the horse with top sire Zabeel who stands at his Cambridge Stud.
"I wanted to go to stud," Sir Patrick recalled after Smiling Like's runaway win in the $160,000 New Zealand Cup on Saturday
"I was taking her out of the stable and heading off."
That's when Hawtin intervened.
"Keith Hawtin said 'Don't do that to me'. He said she will win a big race for you one day, just give me a little time.
"I said I'll do it on one condition, that Rogey doesn't get his hands on her and take her to Australia," Sir Patrick said.
He said he told Hawtin: "You train her, you've made the statement . You have got to do the job."
Sir Patrick said Saturday's success provided a great sense of achievement for all concerned.
"Today that job's been done."
Sir Patrick said he paid a six figure sum for Smiling Like. He was told by Rogerson that the horse's previous owner from Malaysia "had got into a spot of bother and needs to cash her up".
Sir Patrick admitted he was not taken by the appearance of Smiling Like when first inspecting the horse but was won over by her breeding.
Smiling Like is by top sire Star Way and her dam is by Sir Tristram who became a world class sire when standing at Hogan's stud. But the clincher for Sir Patrick was Smiling Like is a sister to the former top filly Nimue.
Nimue's wins included two at group one level, the One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton and the Bayer Classic at Otaki. A half-brother to Nimue is Sirstaci who won the group one Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie.
Smiling Like's racing career may be limited. She was served by shuttle stallion Cape Cross, who is standing at Cambridge Stud, less than three weeks ago but a pregnancy test has not been carried out.
Sir Patrick said he would usually test mares for pregnancy 16 days after being served but was not about to do that after Smiling Like recorded a slashing New Zealand Cup trial when second the previous Saturday in the $40,000 Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) at Riccarton.
"I said nobody's touching her after her run last Saturday.
Sir Patrick said if Smiling Like was in foal she could race up to the end of January. That would be enough time to take in either the $350,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on January 1 or the $270,000 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on January 27.
Smiling Like was ridden by brilliant apprentice Michael Walker whose career just continues to astound.
The 16-year-old became the first to win the New Zealand jockeys' premiership in his first year as a rider when he topped last season's premiership with 131 wins - 28 more than his nearest rival.
Walker is a clear early leader in this season's premiership and the New Zealand Cup win represents a new high on his curriculum vitae.
"It's my biggest thrill in racing to date," Walker said.
"It's a group two race and I just hope I can get to group ones now."
- NZPA
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