Smith reckons promising colt can kick off Golden streak at Warwick Farm
The rising four-year-old wasted little time in getting on the board with an easy win at his second start at Gosford, and Smith said he gave a glimpse of his potential when he jumped straight into Saturday grade.
That was when he split Diddle Dumpling and Codetta in a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill earlier this month.
'I think he took the next step, that's for sure,' Smith said. 'He did things a lot better than in the start before. He's getting there, he's just got to learn his race craft and he'll be fine.
'The depth of racing in Sydney is so competitive, especially in those 72s and 78s, and a horse needs to have above-average ability to jump quickly in those grades.
'They've got to be smart in the way they race, they can't be overdoing it. They've got to be travelling and know how to quicken up. He's got the ability, the penny hasn't quite dropped yet, but I think he'll get there.'
Golden Straand stays at 1300m for his fourth race start and Smith is comfortable with his decision to save him from Randwick last weekend.
Jay Ford retains the ride on the colt and, from a barrier five, Smith said the right platform is there for him to win and then step up in distance.
'He should get the right run from there, it's the perfect barrier for him,' he said. 'I'm keen to see him at a mile, I think he'll be a really nice horse over seven furlongs to a mile.
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A premiership player in his rookie season, Morris bagged a career-best six goals in the crucial victory over the Magpies to take his season tally to 40. "He's a great player, young Logan," Fagan said. "When he turned up, I just didn't know he was going to turn into the player that he's turned into very quickly. "He's a level-headed young man, loves his footy and he was so disappointed in his game last week (in a 66-point smashing by Gold Coast). "It was good to see him respond in the manner he did. "Oscar's a bit sore at the moment so I'm not sure when he's going to be right. "It's good that Henry's been able to come in as a forward, but he's also a pretty handy ruckman. "I hope he can develop into a really good forward who can be a great back-up ruckman." The Lions sit third with three games to come against Sydney (home), Fremantle (away) and Hawthorn (home) before their premiership defence begins in earnest during the finals. Brisbane have been able to rise for the biggest games this season, particularly on the road, having taken care of Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, and Hawthorn and Collingwood at the MCG. But Fagan is not getting too carried away with their first win against the Magpies in 11 years, having needed a thorough review following a shambolic QClash performance. The Lions will need to replace Ryan Lester for next Saturday's clash with the Swans after the premiership defender went off with concussion in the second quarter. Lester's injury potentially opens the door for forgotten recruit Tom Doedee to make his Lions debut, having been cruelled by back-to-back ACL injuries and then struggling to find his best form. Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is unsure when sore ruck stalwart Oscar McInerney will return as he battles a chronic back injury. 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Lester's injury potentially opens the door for forgotten recruit Tom Doedee to make his Lions debut, having been cruelled by back-to-back ACL injuries and then struggling to find his best form.
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Emerging forward Logan Morris bagged a career-best six goals in a commanding display - the first Lions player to kick that many majors in a MCG game since Jonathan Brown in 2004. Morris had terrific support from young ruck-forward Henry Smith, who slotted three first-half goals in his first game for 2025. Smith came in to replace sore Oscar McInerney, who continues to struggle with a debilitating back injury. Darcy Fort and Smith battled manfully against star Collingwood ruck Darcy Cameron, helping the Lions comfortably win the clearance battle 50-36. After being towelled up by Suns stars Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson last week, premiership stars Lachie Neale (36 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (34) were outstanding in the middle. "I expected the group to respond, I didn't know whether they would be able to respond well enough to win because we were playing a really good opponent," Lions coach Chris Fagan said. "It was really pleasing with a younger team to be able to come here and play in a big game in front of a big crowd and produce a really tough performance." Brisbane were dealt a major blow to their defensive structure when they lost premiership veteran Ryan Lester to concussion at the start of the second quarter. Trailing by 20 points at quarter-time, Collingwood powered ahead with five goals to two in the second term, including a long bomb to returning star Jordan De Goey. But after being sidelined for three months, the Magpies opted to take it easy with their dynamic ace, subbing him out during the third quarter. Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who has missed a month due to personal reasons, came into the game for De Goey. Hill flew for a trademark speccy in the last quarter after Lions star Will Ashcroft inexplicably kicked across goal. 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The Brisbane Lions have responded after a QClash debacle to knock off Collingwood by 27 points in a potential grand final preview in front of 82,326 fans. After suffering a 66-point belting by Gold Coast last Saturday, the reigning premiers roared back to defeat the Magpies at the MCG for the first time since 2014. Leading by 19 points at three-quarter time, Brisbane had to overcome some nerves in the final term to win 14.8 (92) to 10.5 (65) in front of the biggest home-and-away crowd for a non-Victorian team. Emerging forward Logan Morris bagged a career-best six goals in a commanding display - the first Lions player to kick that many majors in a MCG game since Jonathan Brown in 2004. Morris had terrific support from young ruck-forward Henry Smith, who slotted three first-half goals in his first game for 2025. Smith came in to replace sore Oscar McInerney, who continues to struggle with a debilitating back injury. Darcy Fort and Smith battled manfully against star Collingwood ruck Darcy Cameron, helping the Lions comfortably win the clearance battle 50-36. After being towelled up by Suns stars Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson last week, premiership stars Lachie Neale (36 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (34) were outstanding in the middle. "I expected the group to respond, I didn't know whether they would be able to respond well enough to win because we were playing a really good opponent," Lions coach Chris Fagan said. "It was really pleasing with a younger team to be able to come here and play in a big game in front of a big crowd and produce a really tough performance." Brisbane were dealt a major blow to their defensive structure when they lost premiership veteran Ryan Lester to concussion at the start of the second quarter. Trailing by 20 points at quarter-time, Collingwood powered ahead with five goals to two in the second term, including a long bomb to returning star Jordan De Goey. But after being sidelined for three months, the Magpies opted to take it easy with their dynamic ace, subbing him out during the third quarter. Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who has missed a month due to personal reasons, came into the game for De Goey. Hill flew for a trademark speccy in the last quarter after Lions star Will Ashcroft inexplicably kicked across goal. The Pies' second term was the only period when they looked close to their best, managing just three goals after halftime in a concerning form line so close to September. It was Collingwood's third defeat in four matches, meaning they will finish the round off the top of the ladder, replaced by surging Adelaide. "We've won one of our last two ... it's feedback, but I just have a positive lens," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said, dismissing concerns over the Magpies' form. "We were outplayed by a really good team, a hungry team. "Our second quarter was pretty dominant ... I want to dig into that and why that was the case and let's repeat that behaviour." The Daicos brothers, Nick and Josh, were typically dominant early, but their influence faded as the game went on. It was the Magpies' first loss to the Lions since round 23, 2023, having won their previous four games against Brisbane.
