August Edition upsets in Cup
The husband and wife training partnership of Shaun and Emma Clotworthy caught their rivals unaware when they produced August Edition to win the Collinson Forex Karaka Cup (2200m) at outside odds on Sunday.
More known as winter performer when the tracks are at their deepest, the Alamosa mare had shown she could perform on a better surface when successful at Ellerslie two starts ago.
The five-year-old followed that up with a highly creditable performance for sixth in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final on New Year’s Day before tackling the feature event at Ellerslie.
Settled nicely in midfield by Rosie Myers, August Edition relaxed nicely before improving into a challenging position behind the leaders at the 600m mark.
The mare followed Top Prospect through a gap on the inside shortly after straightening to issue her challenge before outstaying her rival in the run to the post.
Top Prospect held second in a driving finish with race favourite Charles Road third after racing a touch erratically in the home straight.
‘‘She kind of surprised us three runs back and ran the distance and liked the harder track which was something we didn’t think she would do,’’ said Emma Clotworthy.
‘‘We thought she might like the firmer track again and her work with stablemate Diesel was very good, so she deserved a shot at this.
‘‘It tends to be one day at a time with her so it’s great for the owners as it has taken a lot of hard work to get her here. I’m just rapt that today she could pull it off.’’
The victory continues a winning role for the Byerley Park conditioners who produced Diesel to win the $100,000 Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2200m) on 1 January.
Meanwhile laid-back character Xbox proved he was wide awake and on the job when he upset predictions at Ellerslie.
The three-year-old Niagara gelding has a stable reputation for taking life at his own pace at home but once he sights a racetrack the competitive juices come to the fore.
‘‘A couple of the staff have said to me that they thought he was sick because he was asleep in his box,’’ said trainer Graham Richardson.
‘‘That’s sleep.
Despite finishing second to Spring Heat two starts ago in the Gr. 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), Xbox was only moderately favoured for Sunday’s 1500m contest with Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas placegetter Every Loyal sent out a dominating favourite. all he does at home,