By Alex Nolan
For the second time this year, Western Sydney trainer David Smith is counting the cost of a severe flood just days out from a Group 1 assignment with Super Estrella.
Situated on the banks of the Nepean River at Elderslie, Smith is one of thousands in New South Wales currently feeling the effects of yet another extreme weather event.
Flooding last struck Smith’s property in early April, just days before Super Estrella was due to contest the Group 1 Association Cup Final at Wentworth Park.
She would go on to finish fourth but this time around, the flooding has done its best to interrupt the daughter of Fernando Bale’s preparations for the Group 1 Queensland Cup over 710 metres at Albion Park on Thursday.
Smith said the past couple of days had been a “disaster”, attempting to move dogs between his house and trailers to escape the flood waters.
Nonetheless, his sense of humour and willingness to get on with things remained in tact.
“It only ever seems to happen when I’m in a big race, so lucky I don’t make too many,” he joked.
“There are plenty more worse off than us … we’ve just got a Queensland Cup to win.
“The Camden Bridge, where you may have seen footage of overturned caravans, is about a pitching wedge from my place.
“They didn’t evacuate us this time, but we were on standby.
“The kennels were two metres underwater and we’ve been cleaning them out all day.
“It’s different for the dogs and they know something’s going on, being in and out of the house.”
Super Estrella has been one of New South Wales’ most consistent chasers over the past 18 months.
A winner of 25 from 59 starts, she has placed an incredible seven times at Group level without winning, including two minors at the highest level.
The noted frontrunner has drawn box two for her assignment, after being run down in the shadows of the post by up-and-coming local stayer Oh Oh Range (41.90 seconds) in last week’s heat.
Smith was reluctant to make any excuses for Super Estrella’s defeat as an odds-on favourite last week but said her positive racing pattern ensured she was a key hope in any race she contests.
The traders at TAB agree.
Despite going under in the slowest heat, the bookmaker has installed Super Estrella as a $4.40 second favourite behind the Tony Brett-trained Bedrock Fred at $2.80.
“Her speed puts her in every race,” Smith said.
“I probably didn’t expect her to get run down last week … but she did.
“Whether that’s being a bit flat from the other day (when she recorded a blistering 41.71 second run over 720 metres at Wentworth Park), or whether that’s just an excuse, I’m not sure.
“I’m a first-generation trainer so I’ll be the first to admit that I’m still learning.
“On the clock (last week’s time) was too slow but her run at Wentworth Park was the second or third fastest of the year.”
Like Super Estrella, Smith too is looking to crack his first Group success after much heartache.
He came agonisingly close with Ice Cream Story in December’s Group 3 Newcastle Cup.
The bitch looked to have the race all sewn-up deep into the home straight before suffering a career-ending hock injury in the shadows of the post.
“That’s just the way it rolls,” Smith said.
The Queensland Cup comes up as race six on the 12-race card. The first jumps at 6:19pm local time.
