Clarify rethink pays off
AN afterthought proved to be a masterstroke when the lightweight Clarify produced a strong staying performance to defy his Manawatu Cup (2100m) opposition.
Trainer Peter McKay had originally planned to target the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day before switching his attention to yesterday’s Awapuni feature.
It proved to be an inspired move with the son of Savabeel, in the hands of McKay’s son Shaun, downing the brave topweight Blathwayt, who had to concede six kilos to the winner.
Clarify dropped back from the inside gate before he was off the fence going out of the straight and improved wide to be prominent 600m from home.
“It was a good ride from Shaun, we didn’t want to be stuck on the rail so I told him to get off and get going early,” McKay said.
“He let him slowly stroll forward to be in the fight on the turn. He’s a tough horse and that’s the way to ride him.”
Bred and raced by the Smithies family of Monovale Farm, Clarify’s immediate programme is yet to be confirmed, but his longer-term goal is.
“He’s nominated for the Auckland Cup and we’ll work our way toward that,” McKay said.
His son has now partnered the five-year-old Clarify in four of his five wins.
“Down the back we were three wide with cover and I had a handful on the corner,” he said. “He dug really deep.”
Third home was Alinko Prince, who came from the tail of the field.
“His whole preparation is centred around the Wellington Cup,” trainer Fraser Auret said.
“He only went down by a head in the Chalmers last season so we know he can run the trip and we’re purposefully spacing his races.”
Meanwhile, a youngster bought with a staying career in mind is in contention for a massive juvenile pay day.
Sword Of Osman distanced his rivals on debut in Saturday’s NZ Bakels 2Y0 Premier (1100m) at Awapuni to put himself right in the frame for next month’s Karaka Million (1200m).
The Savabeel gelding made the running and coasted clear in the run to the post.
“He could be racing for $1 million in a month after he was bought as a staying three-year-old,” said Jamie Richards, who trains Sword Of Osman with Stephen Autridge.
“Anything he has done today he will improve on.”
At Awapuni, Sword Of Osman was making his first public appearance after impressing at home.
“He’s a lovely horse and the Savabeels are all the go,” Richards said. “Unfortunately, it went from being pretty wet to firm and we didn’t want to trial him on a hard track,” Richards said.
“He had impressed Opie (Bosson) in jump-outs though.”
With Bosson in action at Te Rapa, Michael McNab got the ride and he had the easiest of times aboard Sword Of Osman.
“He’s a machine,” he said. “Opie’s had a rap on him for about a month now. I galloped him one morning during the week and it was like Melody Belle all over again.”
Sword Of Osman’s performance has strengthened the stable’s hand to defend the Karaka Million title held by Melody Belle.
Welcome Stakes winner Al Hasa and Avantage, who is unbeaten in two outings, are also set to tackle the January 27 feature at Ellerslie.