Since the couple broke up in 2012, Smith has remained in his adopted country where, as a Myer ambassador, he is the face of their menswear range. He’s also a co-host of Channel Seven’s national afternoon program, The Daily Edition. And with the autumn racing calendar about to get into full swing, Smith’s commitments to Myer are about to ramp up as well. He’ll be judging the fashions on the field at the Black Opal at Thoroughbred Park in Canberra on March 9. But before then, we spoke to him as he hurtled between appointments at the Myer autumn-winter fashion launch in Melbourne in late February.

And the affable Brit seemed to love the rush.

‘‘You know what? It’s an absolutely brilliant time of the year. It just warms you up for the winter,’’ he says.
Things are obviously going well for him professionally and personally.

Smith says with genuine affection: ‘‘I love this country.’’

‘‘It has been extremely welcoming to me from the first moment I stepped off the plane,’’ he says.

‘‘I remember my first flight in. I flew into Sydney and I had to go to Melbourne and I’d just been on a 24-hour flight for the first time in my life. And as soon as I stepped off the flight, I had a six-hour wait before my connecting flight. I went to the customer service desk and they said, ‘Absolutely sir, we’ll have your bags transferred and have you on a flight in 45 minutes’. And I was just like, instantly, ‘I love this country!’ And it’s an absolutely incredible place to raise children. People come on holiday here and sort of stay because where they’re from is not as good as this place. It has a big place in my heart.’’

And he just wants to get busier.

Smith’s latest project is an online fitness program he has at the proposal stage.

‘‘I’ve got a real passion for helping people out and helping people get fit. I’m going to take that online, so that’s another string to the bow,’’ he says.
‘‘I was heavy as a kid and I had no idea how to handle that. Childhood obesity is a big thing in Australia and in order to help kids get a chance at life, you need to inject a bit more time and effort into what the kids are doing.’’

It’s surprising to hear Smith reveal he was overweight as a child, given his athletic background, signing with the Leeds rugby league club at age 15 and his now chiselled physique. He says football did help him to shed the weight – eventually.

‘‘It did,’’ he says. ‘‘I’ve also got a great family around me and I understand, unfortunately, not everybody has that. But you know, it was just a freak summer where I just lost the appetite and grew from a being a little, heavy kid, with no confidence whatsoever, and didn’t want to embarrass myself by actually attempting sport, to someone who found this massive love of sport and keeping fit. It was just a transformation from someone who says they can’t do it, or don’t want to do it, but as soon as they make that effort, so many things turn around.’’

As a first-time father, Smith obviously dotes on almost-four Ethan, who if tabloid pictures are any guide, seems to have followed in his father’s footsteps, with a love of sport, captured at one time lugging around pint-sized golf clubs.

‘‘He’s absolutely gold,’’ he says. ‘‘I finished work a little bit earlier the other day and went and picked him up and took him to dinner. We went back to the hotel and he wanted to order room service, and he’s very particular on what he wants. So I give him the phone and [he] orders himself. And then we sat in bed and just watched kids’ movies and hung out and it was just that memorable time that will never leave you. You can never do it enough, can you?’’

Smith says the youngster takes full advantage of the artificial putting green he has set up in his apartment. ‘‘He will not let me sit down. It’s ’daddy, daddy, I want to play golf’.

‘‘And if he’s not doing that he’s in the swimming pool, or if he’s not in the pool, he’s kicking a ball. He’s just an active boy, which is something I’m extremely grateful for as well,’’ he says.

‘‘He just lights up every single day, it’s amazing.’’

Smith says he and Minogue have a respectful relationship, sharing parenting duties.

‘‘We’ve both been very good. We’ve both got his best interests at heart. We just make sure we put him first,’’ he says.

And the fascination continues, especially from the British tabloids, in Smith’s relationship now with model Maddy King. There was recently talk about them getting married when they were spotted wearing matching rings.

‘‘Oh, look, it’s not something I’m going to totally rubbish away but it’s nothing that’s set in motion yet, no. We’re very happy together. She’s a great girl, she’s amazing with Ethan and he loves her to bits,’’ he says.

‘‘It’s a really good time. She was there last night [at the fashion launch] supporting me through it and loved every minute of it. So many people told me she sat there like the proud girlfriend, videotaping everything. It’s just really nice to have that support network, it makes everything worthwhile.’’
King is always a fan of the races.

‘‘She loves to get dressed up, loves it. She’s a typical girl in that sense. And no outfit can go without a new pair of shoes. Which, you know, I understand. As a guy, I’m kind of similar,’’ he says, with a laugh.

‘‘She doesn’t gamble, she doesn’t punt too much. It’s $5 or $10 at the very most and if that loses, she’s filthy and doesn’t want to play any more. She’s very sensible in that respect.’’

As far as race-day fashion goes, Smith says: ‘‘I just love to see that little bit of understated class.’’ And originality.

‘‘It’s so easy these days with department stores and suit businesses and dressmakers, to go in and buy something on a mannequin. But as soon as you put a bit of imagination in there, it not only makes you feel better, it makes everything look a bit different and that’s when your own style comes into it,’’ he says.

‘‘I know a lot of guys are not really big fans of shopping. So my recommendation is if you’re in an area where there’s a personal shopper, great, take their advice. Failing that, take the females in your life: they know. And, trust me, they’re brutally honest. If it doesn’t work, you’ll be the first to know.’’

■ For more details on Myer Fashions on the Field at today’s Black Opal Stakes go to thoroughbredpark.com.au/fashions-on-the-field