Tim Clark rides Thronum in Saturdays Goodwood Handicap
Sydney jockey Tim Clark will head to Morphettville in a bid to win his third Group One sprint in as many weeks when he rides Thronum in the Goodwood.
Clark won the Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide on Shoals on May 5 and renewed his association with English in last Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane.
Until last week, he had not ridden the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare since English’s first barrier trial in January 2015 and faces a similar scenario with Sun Stud-bound Thronum.
He has ridden Thronum once in a barrier trial before the now four-year-old left Waterhouse and Bott for Lindsay Park last year.
Saturday’s Goodwood (1200m) will be Thronum’s (1200m) last chance to boost his stud credentials.
Thronum was to have his racing swan song in the Doomben 10,000 l but was a late scratching after he suffered a minor head wound in a pre-race incident.
Connections opted to charter a plane to fly Thronum from Brisbane to Adelaide in search of an elusive Group One win.
Thronum’s past three starts have been at the highest level, with his best effort a second to Hellbent in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on May 5.
“I remember doing some of his track work. He’s always shown potential and he’s been racing well for Lindsay Park,” Clark said.
Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes also saddles up last year’s winner Vega Magic but is not discounting Thronum’s chances.
“We were shattered when he had the mishap while saddling him up. He’s recovered well and he could easily be overlooked, but I think he’ll run really well,” Hayes said on his weekly stable update.
Clark also rides the Waterhouse and Bott-trained favourite Savapinski in the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2019m) at Morphettville, a fortnight after he guided the mare to fourth in the Group Two Of The South Stakes (1600m).
“I was keen to ride Savapinski when I went down for Shoals and although she didn’t win I thought she ran extremely well so I was keen to stick with her,” Clark said.
