Listed targets in mind for 'horse of a lifetime' One Cool Poet

Trainer Matthew Smith has labelled One Cool Poet as a horse of a lifetime after the three-time Galway festival winner showed an explosive turn of foot to land the closing premier handicap on Irish Champions Weekend on Sunday.

Listed races beckon for Smith’s stable star, who has climbed from a mark of 66 to his current rating of 100 in less than two months.

Smith was keen to deflect any praise for his handling of One Cool Poet, who was beaten in a 1m5f handicap at Leopardstown on Saturday prior to landing Sunday's 1m2f event at the Curragh.

Instead, Smith spoke highly of his big-race jockey, Billy Lee, who has steered One Cool Poet to four wins from his last five starts.

“Billy is top class. With the way things worked out on Saturday, Billy didn't go hammering him to try and get a place or two closer,” Smith said.

“I don't know how he got there to win on Sunday because, even watching it back, you'd be thinking there's no way he's going to get up.

Billy Lee: four wins from five rides on One Cool Poet since July 30Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's one thing doing it down in a low grade at Galway but it's another in a premier handicap.

"He's been a horse of a lifetime and I don't think I'll come across a horse like him again, to improve as well as he has."

Smith added: “The bubble was burst a little bit on Saturday and we had it in our heads we could always go back hurdling if he didn't run well on Sunday.

“I know this sounds mad but Billy said he was just too fresh and too keen at Leopardstown and it's almost as if the run took the steam out of him a little bit.

"He was more relaxed and more professional leaving the parade ring on Sunday. I know Billy got some kick out of the whole thing. I rang him on Sunday evening and he was thrilled."

On future plans, the trainer said: “I'm just delighted for his owners. Ollie Ryan, who runs the syndicate, has been with me from the start and he's been involved with plenty of horses before One Cool Poet came along.

"The horse is up to 100 now so we'll look at a Listed race for him next. A mile and two furlongs seems to suit him well so we'll have a look at the calendar.”

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