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By Tony Megahey

Finishing stone motherless last in a TAB Highway is a normally a lasting series conviction, but Dubbo’s rising trainer Clint Lundholm, on the assessment of Kerrin McEvoy, anticipates a complete form reversal at massive odds from dual winner Smooth Esprit in a Rosehill Gardens episode on Saturday.

Smooth Esprit ($34 on TAB), according to the jockey with the incredible résumé of three Melbourne Cups and also The Everest treble, was all at sea when he rode him on a Heavy 8 surface.

Smooth Esprit (Kerrin McEvoy) heads to the barriers at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

“Kerrin told me he was useless in it when he asked him to let down. He gave him a good feel going to the barrier and settling but then the wheels were spinning, so bring him back in better ground,” Clint explained.

The previously consistent gelding carries 57kg for Regan Bayliss back in grade into the $100,000, 1400m Class 2 after his failure on bog in a Rosehill Gardens 1200m, Class 3 won by Matthew Dale’s hot prospect Molly Nails.

On Saturday, McEvoy was committed to Brett Cavanough’s Afewchoicewords ($19) with 55.5kg, hence the late Bayliss booking.

The absolute key for Smooth Esprit is a present Soft 6 rating, a month’s freshen and recovery as the gelding was a strong second in soft going at Royal Randwick (1800m) in late February.

“Going home in the car I said to the owner, we both know this horse can gallop, we’ll give him a freshen and come back.

“Obviously the barrier (19) is a negative, but he does get back anyway and we might come in a couple with scratchings. Any luck getting cover he’ll be strong out to 1400m and there’s always decent tempo in these races.

“It was a top run at 1800m, he was impressive winning two open barrier trials when we brought him back. So last start was totally out of character.

“We put it down to the track conditions. His work has been really good since.”

At present the track is a Soft 6 and in early TAB markets Dale’s dual winner Dream Game is the $5.50 favourite.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here