![Golden Straand will attempt to bounce back from his Flemington defeat when he contests the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle for trainer Matthew Smith. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/2183810.jpg)
Golden Straand’s first trip to Melbourne didn’t go as Matthew Smith planned, but the Warwick Farm trainer is confident he can bounce back closer to home this weekend.
The five-year-old son of Snitzel will run in this Saturday’s $1 million Listed The Hunter at Newcastle.
The 1300-metre event will be the entire’s first start since a ninth placing in the Group 2 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day, when he raced on the speed but petered out late.
Golden Straand was beaten almost four lengths by Ndola at his first straight-track start and Smith blamed the performance on him being too eager at the start.
“He just began too quickly,” he said.
“He drew the right part of the track, but the plan was to ride him with cover and he jumped straight to the front. So, it all went pear-shaped right out of the gate.”
Golden Straand’s last three wins have been at 1100m and he hasn’t been out to 1300m since November 1 last year, when fifth in a benchmark 78 at Randwick on Golden Eagle Day.
Smith is not concerned about him running out The Hunter distance strongly providing things work out better in the run than last start.
“The 1300 should be ideal for him and just hopefully we get to ride him like the start before, when he got a bit of covered and finished off,” he said.
“He’s a big-galloping, big-striding horse, Newcastle should suit him and 1300 shouldn’t be a problem.”
Golden Straand was one of 32 entries for The Hunter, which also counts last year’s winner Coal Crusher, Bill Ritchie Stakes winner General Salute, The Invitation runner-up Infancy, in-form Victorian Run Harry Run and Rising Fast Stakes runner-up Sweynesday as other entries.
