KEY POINTS:
To most trainers having their training track washed away would just about be the last straw in a ridiculously wet winter.
But Kevin Smith is happy for it to keep raining because it might as well be money falling from the sky.
The small-time trainer had to take
his entire team of four claimers from his Brookby base to Pukekohe on Wednesday to work them after the non-stop rain this week swept part of his property's training track into a paddock.
"It has rained so hard I will have to get some new top for the track," laughed Smith.
The reason he is laughing is Smith has been the undisputed king of the Alexandra Park winter, with his stable of cast-offs winning over $50,000 last month.
Because all four of his racehorses are claimers, every time they go to the races they are on the market for a maximum of $10,000, sometimes as little as $5000.
But with winter racing suiting the tough and fit rather than the fast and flighty, Smith's version of 'Dad's Army' has been on a remarkable roll.
Make It Real turns 10 today but has won his last three starts and will go close to starting favourite in tonight's main race, in which Mr Whoudini, winner of his past two starts on the track, gives Smith a strong second-string.
"The winter is a great time for horses like these," admits Smith.
"The best premier-grade horses are having a spell and the softer tracks probably suit my horses' old legs.
"So I don't mind the rain ... as long as they keep winning."
Because Make It Real is racing as a claimer he stays in the same grade tonight as he did winning his last three starts, even though he has now won 18 races in a career spanning 110 starts.
He will start from the outside of the front line but is best when saved for one run at the leaders, so the draw doesn't greatly alter his chances.
"I think he will be no worse than four lengths off them turning for home so he has to be hard to beat again," said Smith.
"He is racing better than ever. I changed a few small things in his training a while back and it has really sharpened him up."
So Smith rates him a better winning chance than Mr Whoudini, even though the latter has also improved enough to win his last two outings.
The biggest threat to the stable pair should be Maheer Skipper, who only needs luck from the second line to threaten.
Smith will line up the other half of his racing team in race one, where he favours Anotherchristian more than Our Fred.
"Anotherchristian is probably more tractable, whereas Our Fred may not have his speed and is a bit more of a one-trick pony. But I expect them both to be handy."
CLAIM TO FAME
* Kevin Smith has compiled a remarkable record with a team of battling claimers.
* He won over $50,000 in stakes last month.
* Make It Real turns 10 today but will still be hard to beat in tonight's main pace at Alexandra Park.
* Smith rates Anotherchristian in race one as his best each way chance.