Craig Smith chasing third Birdsville Cup

By Glenn Davis

Roma's Craig Smith is one of the most successful trainers in Birdsville history and will be shooting for a third Cup win at the iconic desert meeting on Saturday.

Smith accepted with Salazar and The General in the 1600 metre dirt track feature which is regarded as the Melbourne Cup of the desert.

However, Smith scratched The General after drawing barrier 15 and will rely on outsider Salazar in the famous outback race.

Smith has been making his annual pilgrimage to Birdsville for 15 years and has won two Cups with Dancefloor Prodigy in 2012 and Fast Fella in 2017.

“It’s 1,140 kilometres from Roma to Birdsville and I’ve been coming here every year for 15 years,” Smith said.

“It’s a challenge to get a horse here and a great thrill to win a race, let alone the Cup.

“I had two in the Birdsville Cup but I’m only starting Salazar as The General is running Friday.”

Salazar – a Les Tilley mount – is coming off a last start third to the Ben Waldron-trained Peshwa in a 1640 metre Open Handicap on the sand track at Roma on August 19.

Salazar previously claimed the 1600 metre St George Cup in July.

Smith originally planned to start Salazar in a lower grade race at Birdsville but changed plans when The General drew poorly.

The General’s owners paid $30,000 for him as a potential country Cups horse in Queensland.

“The General is being set for the Country Cups Challenge in Brisbane in November and then the Battle Of The Bush Final,” Smith said.

Smith won his first Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm in June with Art By Concorde.

Smith was relieved when top weight Bollente was scratched from the Birdsville Cup and rates his former stable mate Deep Breath as a danger.

Deep Breath is having his first start for Barcaldine trainer Bevan Johnson.

Former Victorian Deep Breath was trained for most of his career in Queensland by Nick Walsh at Rockhampton before being moved on to Richard Simpson for one start.

The seven-year-old finished third for Simpson in the Newmarket Handicap over 1200 metres at Longreach before being transferred to Johnson for his Birdsville Cup bid.

In the latest TAB markets, Factory Warrior, now trained in Mount Isa by Damien Finter, is a $4.60 favourite ahead of South Australian Neodium at $5 while Salazar is a $27 chance.