$101 shocker leaves Smith searching his memory

Matt Smith has produced some big-priced placegetters of late, but he can’t recall training a Saturday metropolitan winner at longer odds than $101 chance Alice Mae.

Given little hope by punters, the mare shouldered her way clear from midfield and made a determined bid down the outside to claim the B&J Guttering & Metal Roofing Handicap (1800m) by three-quarters of a length over Shangri La Impact ($3.50).

While Smith has had the likes of Dezignation start at $151 when runner-up to Green Spaces in the ATC Australian Derby, he hasn’t had a runner score at triple figure odds that he can recall.

“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.”

Alice? Alice? Who the…

ALICE MAE AT $126 🤯@alyshacollett @mcsmithracing pic.twitter.com/vNZd52Xsup

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 20, 2026

In her first campaign with Smith, Alice Mae was having her seventh start of the preparation at Randwick.

While the victory wasn’t expected, Smith said he did anticipate a competitive run as the five-year-old had been working into form and taken time to build fitness.

“It was just a matter of getting the miles into her,” Smith said.

“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 effort of stablemate Hammoon Heroine, who finished sixth, and said she would be a horse to watch once stepped out over further.