Gosford preview and best bets: Jockey Tim Clark hopes to extend his winning streak
IT’S no coincidence that Gary Moore has secured the exclusive services of in-form jockey Tim Clark to partner his four runners at Gosford on Wednesday.
Clark was the star of the show at Saturday’s Canterbury meeting when he cleaned up five of the nine races.
And while Moore is rapt to have a rider right at the top of his game, he’s quick to point out the hoop is well acquainted with each of his quartet.
“Tim was riding for me since day one, before he hit the form he’s in now, so I’m very grateful he’s going to ride for us (today),’’ Moore said.
“He’s a very good jockey, he’s fantastic with two-year-olds and very good out of the gates.
“And when you’re getting rides for Godolphin, you have to be riding well.
“But he’s also had a lot to do with the four horses he’ll be riding.’’
Moore pointed to four-year-old debutant Shalluck in the Interior Concepts Handicap (1000m) as the pick of his quartet.
Clark partnered the gelding in his two trials this preparation and Moore was pleased with the way he hit the line in his latest on October 25.
“I wanted him held up in his last trial to see if he could finish it off, whereas we rode him on the speed in his trial before,’’ he said.
“After he won his trial three months ago he was ready to go. He had a slight injury in the stable, so I had to spell him.
“Since he’s come back he looks a lot stronger and is well in himself and I expect him to be very competitive.’’
Exceed The Moon gave Clark an armchair ride when he scored over the Gosford 1000m last month.
The speedy four-year-old has drawn the outside alley in the Aldi Erina Fair Handicap (1000m) but Moore has supreme confidence in Clark giving him every chance.
“I’m not overly concerned because Tim is one of the best jockeys getting them out of a gate,’’ he said. “He has good gate speed and he excels around these tight tracks with the short run-in. He’s a fit horse and I expect him to run well, even with the awkward draw.’’
Moore is acting on Clark’s advice by stepping Hostwin Vintage up in distance in the Alloura Waters Maiden (1600m) and warned his last run should be overlooked.
“I ran him out of his grade (on debut) at the Gold Coast but he made good ground and his last run at Hawkesbury was excellent,’’ Moore said. “He was caught deep and wasn’t knocked about, just pushed to the line hands and heels.’’
On his other runner, Classic Wind, Moore advised to “take him on trust’’ but is making two gear changes, removing the barrier blanket and applying earmuffs and a blindfold to help him in the gates.
Moore’s stable star Takedown is back in his Rosehill stable and a decision will be made soon on his next step. The sprinter is nominated for Hong Kong, though has yet to receive an invite, and the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth this month.
RAY HICKSON’S BEST BETS
BEST BET
Race 6 No. 2 Baroque Girl
Looks ready to win after two runs back including a narrow defeat at Kembla Grange on Melbourne Cup Day. She was an easy winner at her only start over the track and distance back in May and only needs a touch of luck from the outside alley to repeat the dose.
NEXT BEST
Race 8 No. 8 Exceed The Moon
Speedy customer who has the outside gate but he’s a go-forward horse and if he can offset the barrier quickly he’ll take some catching. Was too quick for them over the Gosford 1000m almost a month ago and the opposition doesn’t look any harder. Go well.
TRIAL POINTER
Race 2 No. 1 Himalaya Flyer
Debutant from the Waterhouse/Bott stable and has been prepared for his debut with a couple of solid trial efforts in the past few weeks. The latest of those was a strong win over 1050m at Randwick so he’s well and truly wound up for a big first outing.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Tim Clark was the star of the show at Canterbury with five winners and while he won’t be able to match that effort today it’ll be a surprise if he doesn’t taste success with at least one of his four mounts. Best of them looks to be Exceed The Moon (race 8) but both Hostwin Vintage (race 4) and Shalluck (race 7) are genuine chances.
TRAINER CHANGE
This time last year Deadly Shadow was contesting stakes races in the Melbourne spring carnival, and ran second in one of them at Flemington. That was for Bryce Heys, he had one start for the Hawkes stable in March and is now with Gosford trainer Adam Duggan. He’s trialled well enough to suggest he can finally break through.
Originally published as Gosford preview and best bets