Trainer Pat Webster is not frightened to take on champion mare Winx with Happy Clapper after his stable star was brilliant in winning the Group 1 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick today.
Happy Clapper, above, stormed home to win the 2018 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Happy Clapper claimed his second Group 1 victory to add to his win in the Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick during the 20117 Sydney Spring Carnival and will now meet Winx in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in a fortnight.
“They look different on race day in the enclosure and when I saw him today I thought he was going to run great and he did,” Webster said.
“Just hope I haven’t took too much out of him first up but who cares, it is a Group 1 and now he can probably run second to the great mare (Winx) and then be a chance in the Doncaster.”
Runner up Global Glamour ($5.50) set a hot pace up front and skipped away in the straight but the slick speed suited Happy Clapper ($4.60 favourite) who stormed home to record a one and a quarter lengths win over the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained mare.
The Kris Lees trained Invincible Gem ($7.50) raced in a forward position and held on to run third.
Happy Clapper will also be set for the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 7 and is now on the second line of betting at $9 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The James Cummings trained Kementari is now the clear $4.60 favourite for the Doncaster Mile after winning the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick today.
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