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By Tony Megahey

A galloper intriguingly stranded by outback flooding and having to relocate to race with Dubbo’s Clint Lundholm, is tipped to be the big improver at value odds into a Rosehill Gardens TAB Highway on Saturday.

Smooth Esprit ($26 on TAB) rated highly by the rising young trainer, has been the victim of extremely heavy conditions in more ways than one as he returns into a support to a tremendous day of Group racing.

Smooth Esprit with Kerrin McEvoy aboard. Image by Bradley Photographers

According to Clint, Smooth Esprit has successive “forgive” runs in heavy going and will appreciate a present good four rating as he carries 56kg for big occasion jockey Kerrin McEvoy in a $100,000 Class 2, 1500m.

“His owner Richard Jackson is on a property between Walgett and Collarenebri and when the Barwon burst its banks he couldn’t get to the horse, so he sent him to me to race,” Clint explained.

“When he raced well on soft going we though he’d get through heavy, but Kerrin said he was hopeless in it, that July race at Rosehill.

“But we were always coming back to town. This gelding can gallop.

“That day was a bog, and he did run super in other Highway races.

“Last start we only raced him home track on rain effected because he’d need the run if we were coming to town back to 1500m when he’d raced at 1600m and 1800m.

“If he wins at Dubbo he’s not eligible, so the alternative plan was to come back for another Class 2 Highway.

“So hopefully a good track, good barrier and top jockey, yep a lot in our favour.”

While Smooth Esprit is by Group-winning sprinting sire Bel Esprit, his best form is at 1600m or further and Clint and Jackson are convinced he will develop into a Country Cup’s contender.

In early markets, the Rodney Northam-trained Syrian Star heads the TAB betting at $4.40.

At present Rosehill Gardens is a good four but rain is predicted during Wednesday night and all of Thursday.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here