Central Coast-based jockey Tim Clark equaled his most victories at a meeting, winning five of seven races at Newcastle on Tuesday, including a memorable double for trainer Gary Moore.
Clark dominated on a good day for Sydney trainers, driving home Shadow Bridge ($2.90) for Mark Newnham, Classic Princess ($4.20) and Nordic Lover ($5.50) for Moore, Galway Girl ($2.50) for John O’Shea and Semper Fidelis ($2.60) for Chris Waller.
“That equals my previous best so it’s awesome,” Clark said. “It’s been a great day.”
Clark said he had ridden three or four winners in a day before at Newcastle. His best return was five victories at a Saturday Canterbury meeting in 2016.
He had to work hard late on Galway Girl in the 1600-metre fillies and mares maiden and Nordic Lover in a 1500m colts and geldings maiden to get them home after hitting the lead early, and he believed both had potential.
“I thought Galway Girl could progress through her grades, she’s got a fair bit of scope,” he said.
“Nordic Lover, he’s a similar sort of mould – big and raw and not sure what they are here to do at the moment.
“Once they work it out, they might be OK over these staying trips.”
It was a confidence-boosting day for Clark, who will compete in his first Caulfield Cup on Saturday when he rides the Mick Price-trained Mighty Boss.
“I'm very much looking forward to that,” he said.
“Obviously he’s a long price but that’s OK, we’ll give it out best shot and see what happens.”
Moore was the other star of the day. The high-spirited former champion jockey was thrilled to score his first double at the track as a trainer.
“I had my first race fall here, breaking my right collarbone and left wrist,” the son of legendary hoop George Moore said.
“So to come here today and train two winners here is very, very special.
“The horses are coming into form and it’s great to have Tim Clark back on board.
“The jockeys who have ridden for me have done a marvellous job, but we’ve made a few adjustments at the stables in relation to feed and I think it’s holding us in good stead now.
“It’s my first double here as a trainer, I might have ridden a double here in the dark ages, but it’s a great thrill.”
He said Nordic Lover would go for a spell after a long preparation and Classic Princess would likely next take on midweek Sydney company over more ground.
“The horses were primed today,” he said. “I thought Classic Princess could win and Nordic Lover had gone forward since his unplaced effort at Warwick Farm when he ran in a very good field of young horses.
“It was probably an inferior bunch today but he battled and Tim got him over the line.”
O’Shea said Galway Girl would maybe have one more run before returning in the autumn to chase black-type success over a mile.
“She’s been building towards that and is learning her craft each week,” O'Shea said.
“I think she’s a nice progressive filly.”
“I think she’s got plenty to offer and I think if she had somebody to chase she would have raced even a bit further. I’ll get her home, see how she pulls up and maybe give her one more and then she can go to the paddock.
“With her pedigree, hopefully we can find a nice mile race for her in the autumn and look to get some black type for the Moroney family.”
