Tim Clark celebrated his birthday in style, steering Carbonados to victory at Rosehill to complete a memorable riding treble and take an early lead in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership.
After earlier victories aboard Funshow and Steel Strike, Clark produced another polished ride to guide Carbonados to success in the NSW Jockeys Association Handicap (1300m).
The jockey had to remain patient after becoming pocketed behind the leaders before finding the decisive split in the straight.
“Carbonados travelled up well,” Clark said.
“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 clear, the $15 chance burst through to score by 1¼ lengths over the fast-finishing Althoff ($9.50), with Fire Star ($4.60 favourite) a close third.
The victory represented a dramatic turnaround for Carbonados, who had beaten just one runner home across his previous three starts.
“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 at Flemington by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Carbonados improved his record to seven wins from 22 starts while taking his career earnings to almost $400,000.
The Lindsay Park stable enjoyed a successful raid on Rosehill, also claiming victory with Run Harry Run earlier on the program to finish the day with a double.
The results leave Team Hayes sharing top spot in the early Sydney trainers’ premiership with Richard and Will Freedman, whose winners Attractiveness and Horizons also struck on the opening day of the new season.
Defending champion trainer Chris Waller, meanwhile, endured a rare winless Saturday at his home track as he begins the quest for a 17th consecutive Sydney trainers’ premiership.
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