Trainer Matt Smith maintains a patient strategy with his thoroughbreds and has no intention of rushing Aethelwulf, despite the promising stayer’s effortless victory at Canterbury.

In only his fifth career start and first in city company, the four-year-old Aethelwulf, the $1.26 favourite, comfortably defeated Forbidden Riff ($14) by five lengths in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1900m) on Wednesday, securing an immediate promotion to Saturday grade racing.

Smith had prior reservations about the tight Canterbury track being unsuitable for the colt, but these concerns were quickly dispelled as his superior class dominated the race.

“He’s a big baby but he’s got a motor. He handled (Canterbury) well,” Smith stated. “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?”

Smith confirmed that Aethelwulf would be advanced in distance and grade, with a Saturday metropolitan race over 2000 metres now the immediate objective.

The colt was briefly considered a potential Derby candidate after finishing second on his debut at Goulburn in December, however, this ambition was curtailed by his immaturity at the time.

“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 revealed. “He only had one run, and he was just backward.”

Chris Waller also introduced an exciting late bloomer in Phantom Major, a four-year-old son of Snitzel, who powered home from the rear to claim the Schweppes Handicap (1200m) in only his second outing.

Reflecting the high regard in which he is held, the horse remains entire, and Waller plans to integrate him into the early carnival fixtures.

“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 commented. “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) edged out the Smith-trained Queen’s Gamble ($3.90) by 1-1/2 lengths, providing Waller and jockey James McDonald with the initial leg of an early double, as the Godolphin mare Glissando triumphed 35 minutes later.

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