‘Superstar’ Neat Feat defies heavy burden
LEE- ANNE Montgomerie was doing a bit of dusting at her Port Lincoln home when she came across a trophy in husband Peter’s “man cave”.
It was the QBE Cup that the Gary Clarke-trained Neat Feat had won in 2016.
The Montgomeries are the major part owners of the seven-year-old gelding and Leanne recently said to Sharlene Clarke, the wife of Gary, that she once again fancied Neat Feat’s chances in yesterday’s QBE Cup (1200m) at Fannie Bay. She just had that feeling.
Well that premonition was on the money as Neat Feat ($3.20 fav) brained his rivals in the $29,000 feature on the Darwin program.
Since returning from a spell in January, Neat Feat has won six of his past seven starts.
After four wins in Darwin, he finished fourth in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in Alice Springs in early May before a last start win at Adelaide River on June 2.
Lumping 62kg didn’t concern Neat Feat (Brendon Davis) yesterday as he dominated after sharing the early lead with last year’s Pioneer Sprint winner Le Commandant (Paul Shiers) from Greg Connor’s Alice Springs stable.
Le Commandant ($7) ended up coming second, while $6 hope Neuschwanstein (Felicia Bergstrand) from the Sherrie Lawlor yard stormed home for third.
Neil Dyer’s pair Bel Sir and Royal Request, last year’s Darwin Cup winner, ran well on their return to Darwin to finish fourth and sixth, respectively.
Phil Cole’s Canon Diablo was fifth, but he appeared to have injured a tendon when he returned to the mounting yard.
In the end, it was all about Neat Feat and for the Clarkes it ended a quiet period at Fannie Bay in emphatic style.
“How good was that – he’s a beauty,” Sharlene Clarke said.
“For the time being we’ll just keep on racing him – he just loves it.
“He could have carried 65kg today and it wouldn’t have mattered.”
Will Neat Feat line up in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on August 4?
He ran a time of 1.07.50 yesterday – Jade City’s record for 1200m stands at 1.07.42.
“He’s a superstar – he just keeps on winning,” Gary Clarke said.
“He has won upwards of $100,000 this preparation, which is similar to the prizemoney on offer for the Palmerston.
“Why run him in the Palmerston?
“The handicapper will get him in the end.
“I have no plans right now, but if a race pops up during the Cup Carnival we’ll race him.”