Now You See produces good fight to seal win
RACING: Plan “A” hit an early snag but class saved the day when Now You See overcame a tough run to keep her smart Clifford Park win record intact on Saturday night.
Now You See ($2.30 fav) made it home-track win number four with a 13⁄4-length victory in the Grantham Fuels Benchmark 62 Handicap (1000m) for 3kg claimer Miki Nakao.
The Magic Albert six-yearold overcame a three-wide run in the small field to down Dream Of Ascot ($4.40).
Noor Dropper ($7.50) ran on fairly to be another 3⁄4 length back third.
Now You See has put together back-to-back Clifford Park wins in two runs following a six-month spell but there were some worrying moments for her supporters before she locked up her seventh career victory.
“I expected her to lead and I was very worried the way the race panned out with her three deep,” said Mark Currie representing trainer Ben Currie.
“But she goes good and was still too strong for them.
“She likes the sting out of the ground as well and her and Mr Chow got that tonight which suited them both.
“It would be nice to get a metro win for her now from a broodmare point of view.”
Mr Chow ($5.50) was the first of three Currie stable winners on the seven-race card when he outlasted Rosie Posie ($3.20) for a 11⁄2-length victory in the Richo’s Boxing Gym Benchmark 75 Handicap (1300m) for jockey Nozi Tomizawa.
Currie and Tomizawa also combined for the night’s biggest victory with $1.50 favourite Amthaal who put a 71⁄2 -length winning gap on his rivals in the Peak Roofs Class 4 Handicap (1640m).
TOOWOOMBA fouryear-old Atouchmore ($16) delivered trainer Matt Kropp a second Bassett Park feature victory with a thumping win in Saturday’s Royal On 299 Roma Cup (1640m).
Atouchmore raced away for jockey Brooke Richardson turning for home to down Green Empire ($21) in the Country Cups Challenge Qualifier by two lengths.
Top weight Fab’s Cowboy ($13) was another two lengths back third.
Atouchmore is now qualified for the $70,000 Country Cups Challenge Final (1600m) at Doomben on December 1.
“He’s been hitting his straps and was improved leading into the race after his previous Toowoomba win,” Kropp said.
“The further he’s getting into his preparation the better he’s going.
“Roma Cups are hard to win and he’s done a good job.”
‘‘ IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET A METRO WIN FOR HER NOW FROM A BROODMARE POINT OF VIEW.
MARK CURRIE