Victory aboard the Kiwi-bred Carbonados in the A$160,000 NSW Jockeys Association Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday capped a memorable 40th birthday for jockey Tim Clark.
It was the third win of the afternoon for Clark, who had previously won aboard Funshow and Steel Strike.
Carbonados also provided a winning end to a mixed day for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. The Lindsay Park team had celebrated earlier victories by Touchdown at Flemington and Run Harry Run at Rosehill, but they also had hot favourite War Machine late-scratched from the Gr.3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) after bursting through the starting stalls.
Talented gelding Carbonados has been known to mix his performances, with his seven victories sitting alongside several disappointing performances. His form was at a low ebb heading into Saturday, having failed to beat a runner home in his last two appearances at Geelong on January 3 and Caulfield on June 27.
But the good version of Carbonados is a quality racehorse, and the six-year-old proved that point at Rosehill on Saturday.
Clark found himself in traffic trouble just behind the leaders early in the home straight, but he found a way through with just under 300m remaining. Carbonados accelerated through that gap and kicked away to win by a length and a quarter.
“Carbonados travelled up really 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 win well.
“Carbonados has been a little hit and miss and hard to catch, but the switching of states and changing things up for him worked well.”
Carbonados has had a total of 22 starts for seven wins, three placings and A$388,710 in stakes.
“Cabonados stepped up today and showed his class with a dominant win over 1300m at Rosehill,” Lindsay Park said on Facebook. “Ridden perfectly by Tim Clark, the six-year-old son of Belardo was absolutely bolting with nowhere to go at the top of the straight before Tim managed to get clear and put the race beyond doubt very quickly. That’s seven wins from 22 starts for his wonderful group of owners, including Rupert Legh, whose colours he runs in.”
The Belardo gelding began his career in the New Plymouth stable of Allan Sharrock, and he made a huge impression with a five-length victory on debut on his home track in May of 2023. The runner-up that day was Chantilly Lace, who went on to be a multiple Listed winner and Group Three placegetter. Carbonados was subsequently sold to clients of Lindsay Park.
Bred by David Paykel, Carbonados was purchased for $30,000 by Sharrock out of the Haunui Farm draft during the National Yearling Sale Book 2 session at Karaka in 2022. – NZ Racing Desk.
