Epsom Handicap winner Happy Clapper has drawn the rails in his return to the race track in the Group 1 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Happy Clapper, above, has drawn the rails in the 2018 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper was a Group 1 winner during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival with his victory in the $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
The seven year old continued his good form for the remainder of the Spring and was spelled after running second to Tosen Stardom in the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Top Sydney jockey Blake Shinn was aboard Happy Clapper in the Epsom Handicap and in the Emirates Stakes and gets the ride again in the Canterbury Stakes.
Webstsr has been happy with Happy Clapper’s lead up preparation but is hoping the track doesn’t get any worse than the Soft 7 it was rated on Wednesday.
“I’m very happy with him. His trials have been good and so has his work,” Webster told AAP.
“He’s in a good place and so is his trainer.
“I just hope the rain stays away because he loves firm tracks.”
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Happy Clapper as the $5 equal favourite with the Kris Lees trained Clearly Innocent who has drawn nicely at barrier three in the nine horse Canterbury Stakes field.
Hugh Bowman takes the ride on Clearly Innocent and the pair have already tasted Group 1 success before with their win in the $700,000 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Clearly Innocent has had one run back from a spell and will have a fitness edge following his first up sixth to Kaepernick in the Group 3 $150,000 ACJC Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 17.
Lees will also saddle up $7 chance Invincible Gem who drew barrier six with Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown in the saddle.
Invincible Gem has a very good first up record and will be stepping out for the first time since running third to Happy Clapper in the Group 2 $200,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Global Glamour has drawn barrier eight for Tim Clark while Chris Waller’s high quality mare Foxplay will jump from the outside gate with Kerrin McEvoy booked to ride.
Waller will also saddle up last start Apollo Stakes winner Endless Drama who drew barrier four with Tye Angland retaining the mount.
