MITCH Beer has had a few cracks at winning the Snake Gully Cup and reckons he was “stiff” not to land Gundagai’s famous race six years ago.
But the Kembla Grange trainer finally achieved it on Friday at his fourth attempt with a six-year-old mare purchased online only a few months ago for $10,000.
Ridden by Jeff Penza, $13 chance Clever Art finished best to overhaul $2.40 favorite Asgarda in the closing stages.
Beer started unplaced trio Dreams Of Paris ($6), Perfect Illusion ($21), and Sky Call ($17) in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions of the Cup, and said the former was unlucky not to have won in her year.
“It’s a tricky race to win, and she was very stiff,” Beer said on Saturday morning.
“Dreams Of Paris was a good mare who won at Caulfield, and was placed at both Moonee Valley and the Listed Tasmanian Stakes at Hobart after being unlucky at Gundagai.”
The stewards’ report backed up Beer’s claim that his mare was “stiff” even though she ran only eighth.
The report stated she missed the start by two lengths, was held up and unable to improve between the 400m and 200m, raced in restricted room over the final 200m and was checked approaching the winning post.
Beer and clients Patriot Bloodstock secured Clever Art through Inglis online in late August, being put up for sale at winning over 1200m at her former home track at Wagga earlier that month.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Donna Scott, who trained the mare,” Beer said.
“Donna is a very good trainer, and Clever Art came to me in great condition, and has quickly proven a terrific buy for us.
“She won the $50,000 Legend of the South (1300m) at Moruya in early October at her second run for us, and now the $100,000 Snake Gully Cup.”
In five starts for her new connections, Clever Art has returned nearly $80,000 – eight times her purchase price.
Beer was disappointed with Clever Art’s unplaced run in a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) at Warwick Farm on October 23, and immediately decided she needed blinkers.
However, he didn’t plan running her in the new gear for the first time in the Snake Gully Cup.
“I felt she needed to race in blinkers before Gundagai, so we took her to Albury a week ago and she ran second in a Benchmark 85 Handicap (1175m).
“Clever Art spends virtually all her time at the beach, and it’s certainly agreeing with her. She is thriving.
“She has pulled up well from the Cup; a lot better than her owners who partied on and stayed overnight in Gundagai.”
Whilst Beer had been keen to win the Snake Gully Cup, the annual meeting has not been unkind to him.
Though Dreams Of Paris didn’t win the 2018 Cup, he won a double that day with Gwenneth and Vivendi, and also scored with Shalook in 2022.
. Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup made it 22 wins for the season with Tequila Baby at Gundagai.
Tequila Baby (Jean Van Overmeire) justified her short quote ($1.50) by bolting home more than three and a half lengths ahead of runner-up No Cent ($14) in the Super Maiden Handicap (1180m).
. Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was understandably delighted with his first success at home on Saturday in the Max Lees 2YO Classic (900m), the race named after his legendary late father.
Lees gave Yulong Investments an immediate return on the $600,000 they paid for the Too Darn Hot filly when she led throughout at $11 to defeat Good Hotspur ($4.20) and fellow Newcastle trainer David Atkins’ late closer Buffalo ($6.50).
The winner’s stablemate Rustemo ($15) was a close fourth.
Gobi Desert is a two-year-old half-sister to Lees’ 2019 Melbourne Group 1 Lightning Stakes winner In Her Time (by Time Thief), who was purchased by Yulong at the end of her racing career.
In Her Time’s first foal, the now three-year-old gelding Time Lapse, is with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman at Pakenham and is yet to race.
Story John Curtis, November 16, 2024
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