Jockey Tim Clark celebrated his birthday with a notable riding treble at Rosehill, securing an early lead in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership.
Following earlier successes with Funshow and Steel Strike, Clark demonstrated his skill aboard Carbonados in the NSW Jockeys Association Handicap (1300m), executing a well-timed ride.
The jockey had to exercise patience as he was initially boxed in behind the leading horses, but he managed to find the crucial opening in the home straight.
“Carbonados travelled up well,” Clark stated. “But then coming into the straight I had to figure out how well the horse (Gatsby’s) was going outside the leader. It looked like the leader was going better so I was happy to stay where I was. I had the horse to make a run when the slightest of gaps appeared and he was able to push his way through and won well.”
Once in the clear, the $15 outsider surged forward to win by 1¼ lengths from the closing Althoff ($9.50), with the favourite Fire Star ($4.60) finishing a close third.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Carbonados, who had finished poorly in his previous three outings.
“Carbonados has been a little hit and miss and hard to catch but the switching of states, changing things up for him worked well,” Clark added.
Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes at Flemington, Carbonados enhanced his record to seven wins from 22 starts, boosting his career earnings to nearly $400,000.
The Lindsay Park stable also had a successful day at Rosehill, with Run Harry Run securing a victory earlier on the card, contributing to their double.
These results place Team Hayes in a shared top position in the early Sydney trainers’ premiership alongside Richard and Will Freedman, whose horses Attractiveness and Horizons also performed strongly on the season’s opening day.
Meanwhile, defending champion trainer Chris Waller experienced an uncharacteristic winless Saturday at his home track as he commences his pursuit of a 17th consecutive Sydney trainers’ premiership.
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