Morphettville trainer Jim Smith won two Adelaide Cups, loves the race and has fond memories of both his winners: Scrupulous in 1995 and Exalted Time in 2006.
However, while both wins were “special”, his first Cup success will always stand out – for several reasons.
Carrying 48kg for featherweight local jockey Michael Carson and starting at 20/1, Scrupulous saluted by the narrowest of margins, edging out fellow roughie Ice Doctor.
Leading into the race, Jim – now 75 – had to convince millionaire owner, the late Howard Bowie, to run Scrupulous in the race. The successful Saipan-based businessman wanted the horse spelled after it finished third in the SA Derby just over a week earlier.
Fortunately, Jim got his way – and Mr Bowie profited, big time.
“During the week… I said, ‘If it wasn’t the Adelaide Cup, Howard, I’d declare it,” Jim recalls.
“He said, ‘He doesn’t know it’s the Adelaide Cup… go and get me two and a half thousand out the bank and I’ll tell you what to do with it on race morning’.
“So, I went and got the two and a half thousand. He rang about half past nine on the Monday morning, told me what he wanted to do and I had… two people lined up to put it on.
“Anyway we collected $52,000 here.”
Jim says he didn’t need to back the horse, because Mr Bowie would always “look after” him.
Twenty-five years after the event, Scrupulous still holds a special place in Jim’s heart.
“My memories of that day are very good,” Jim says.
“His lead-up form was pretty good. He actually ran in the Victoria Derby and ran an enormous race – sat three deep all the way, ran about fifth or sixth.
“I said to Howard that day, ‘Leave me alone with this horse and I’ll nearly win you the derby and the Adelaide Cup in Adelaide’.”
Jim’s other Adelaide Cup success was famously with Exalted Time, which gave former champion SA jockey Clare Lindop her first Group 1 winner.
“Exalted Time only started at about 8/1, because his form was pretty reasonable too,” Jim says.
“I think he ran second or third in the Lord Reims and he led all the way in the Adelaide Cup.
“He was pretty fit and Clare Lindop rode him a treat.”
Jim wagged school – with his mother’s permission – to attend his first Adelaide Cup in 1954 and remembers Spearfolio winning the big race.
“It’s got to be my favourite race,” says Jim, who still has four horses in work.
“It’s the Adelaide Cup – your home-town race. I was thrilled and honoured to win it.”
