Matarie At Home At Queanbeyan

Sunday, 28 August 2011 06:15

Trainer Neville Layt says punters can expect improvement from Matarie on his home track at Queanbeyan on Monday.

The four-year-old lines up in the Hyland Race Colours Benchmark 50 Hcp (1100m) with Layt's son Adrian in the saddle.

Matarie, a $20,000 yearling at the Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney, resumed from a 127-day break to score a strong win over 1180m at Gundagai on July 23 in a Class 2 event then finished a disappointing 10 lengths eighth to Marwishuponastar at the same track in very heavy conditions in a Benchmark 50 handicap on August 7.

"By the time his race came around it was a bog track, bottomless," Layt said of Matarie's last start.

"I knew he couldn't win. He just never handled those sort of conditions.

"Matarie is back to his best. Back on his home track and a lot drier, you'll see a different horse.

Matarie, a four-year-old by Snippetson, has recorded three wins and two placings from 17 starts, earning $33,850 prize money.

"He's a tough bugger, real stocky and will have no troubles carrying the weight (60.5kg) tomorrow," Layt said.

"I could have claimed but Adrian (Layt) knows the horse and most of the chances are similarly weighted.

"He likes racing at home which is always a bonus.

"Funnily enough despite the tough run at Gundagai the horse pulled up fantastic.

"He's been jumping out of his skin.

"If anything the run has done him the world of good."

Layt was taken by the gelding's work mid week.

"He can work brilliant when he's on the job and worked terrific on Tuesday morning," Layt said.

"I've got him where I want him.

"He's had a few things against him, not so much injury wise, just things that have held him back a little.

"We're going to have plenty of fun with this horse, especially around the country."

Layt added Karuta Queen, who led the Run To The Rose before finishing a gallant fourth to budding super star Smart Missile at Rosehill on Saturday, would have her next start in the $100,000 Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on September 17.