Change of plans for Smoke On The Water
Garrick Knight - Raceform • February 5th, 2026 11:29 AM • 4 min read
A dearth of nominations and a cancelled flight will see in-form pacer Smoke On The Water take on Friday’s $25,000 Rangiora Equine Services Amberley Cup at Rangiora.
His trainer Matt Purvis was not initially going to nominate for the race, despite it being on his home track, but changed his mind when only three nominations were received.
“We’d pencilled in the following week’s free-for-all stand at Addington to give him a reprieve from large back marks,” Purvis told RaceForm.
“But once the noms were on the smaller side, and then hearing that Pinseeker was not able to get a flight to Sydney and will probably be at Addington next week, that changed my mind.
“I always try and space him fortnightly or three-weekly, so this slots in with his sort of calendar and he hasn’t missed a beat since getting back from Blenheim.”
Smoke On The Water is off the 40-metre back mark on the grass track this week, but with only six opponents, that will be negated somewhat.
“The way he’s got to be driven, which is for one run at them, there would be no point going off a long mark and trying to get past 15 horses on the short Rangiora straight.
“But with only seven horses in the race, he’ll probably be only two lengths off them at worst, so it’s looking like a nice race for him.”
Smoke On The Water has been on a tear over summer, winning his last three races, including the Reefton and Marlborough Cups.
It means fewer places to ‘hide’ him for Purvis and a reality that he will have to take on the country’s best pacers soon enough.
“We have had talks about going north with him for a race like the Roy Purdon (May 8) before our main goal, which is the Country Cups Final at Addington (May 22).
“It’s making it bloody tough to place him with how far back he’s getting in the handicaps. He’s always been just below those top ones, but hopefully with another year on him, he’s a little bit stronger and can be competitive.”
Purvis has two other horses in at the annual Amberley Trotting Club meeting – the frustrating trotter Bonnie Bagrie and rating-35 pacer Blackjack.
“Bonnie Bagrie has got all the ability, it’s just whether or not she brings her manners. The age-old story – if she trots the trip, she’s a massive chance.
“I took her to the trials last week and she ran a good second behind Bounce N Beyond with the pacifier on, so hopefully that keeps her settled on raceday.
“Blackjack is not a world-beater, but if he gets the right trip, he gets you a cheque. Whether he has the gate speed to find the rails I’m not sure. The standing starts are more his go. Winter racing will suit him, I think.”
