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A winning start to 2017 for Nick Bishara will help to ease the disappointing news he received from Australia toward the end of last year.

The Ardmore Lodge trainer shared in the ownership of Elusive Storm, an Elusive City mare who won eight races from Brian Smith’s Eagle Farm stable.

“She was in foal to Love Conquers All and of all things she got bitten by a snake,” Bishara said. “They found her dead in the paddock, you’d hardly believe it. She was quite a valuable mare.”

Elusive Storm was a half-sister to the multiple winner Elusive Tracy, who was also Group Two placed in the Wellington Guineas.

Bishara is now hopeful of Her Choice turning their luck around when she runs in the Coastwood Homes Thames Cup on Tuesday.

“All we want is a little bit of rain,” he said. “She felt the track at Taupo the other day, but she’s fine now and we trotted her up this morning and she was quite free in her action.”

Prior to her unplaced run in the Taupo Cup, Her Choice had posted consecutive placings at Te Rapa and at Tauranga.

“She’s no superstar, but this looks a winnable race for her,” Bishara said. “The course will suit her, she likes to bowl along on the pace and she keeps going.

“It would be a nice way to start the year as this will be her last race and we’ll bring her back for the autumn.”