Trainer Pat Carey knows a thing or two about the family of Mornington debutant Claymore Mine.
The filly is set to make her debut in the Mornington Peninsula News Group Sires (1200m) on Saturday.
Claymore Mine is a daughter of four-time winner Cresta Condor, that Carey trained, and who has produced Carey-trained gallopers Crestani, a four-time winner, and Clarity, a debut winner at Moonee Valley from only five appearances.
Carey said Claymore Mine may have started her racing career a little earlier had she been named, but he is happy to kick start her career at Mornington on Saturday.
“I could have probably run her a month ago, but she didn’t have a name until the last couple of weeks,” Carey said.
“It’s not such a bad thing. I haven’t seen a horse disadvantaged by more time.
“She’s on her home track, she’s got reasonable trial form and I suspected the race was going to be light on for acceptances, which it is.
“I could have run her on Friday night at Cranbourne in a maiden which also has a small field, but the prize money is great and being on our home track, why not.”
Claymore Mine is raced by her breeder Steve Watkins who trained Abaridy, another horse he owned and bred, to win the 1986 Caulfield Guineas at $251.
Carey said after Cresta Condor did her early racing in the Riverina region of NSW, he was given the mare to train and has been lucky enough to train the offspring.
“I think a couple of the studs had shown a bit of interest her (Claymore Mine), but Steve is an owner-breeder himself and to my knowledge has raced most of the ones he’s bred,” Carey said.
Claymore Mine has had three jump-outs at Mornington, her most recent on April 12, finishing second.
Asked to line the filly up with Clarity, Carey said he would know more after Saturday.
“Clarity won a public trial in fast time on a very heavy track and started 20-to-one,” Carey said.
“She was exposed, so it would be difficult to say whether she is as good as Clarity and the only way to really find out is on race day.”
