Clevadude commenced his spring campaign on a winning note, claiming the $80,000 Sweeney Can Do Agents BM78 Handicap (1000m) for three-year-old colts and geldings at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
In a race billed as a two-horse battle between Clevadude and Cauthen, Clevadude was untroubled leading throughout in contrast to Cauthen who struck severe mid-race interference, robbing the Kiwi visitor of having any winning chance.
Trained by Rick Hore-Lacy and ridden to victory by three-kilo claiming apprentice Patrick Moloney, Clevadude ($3.80) won by a length ahead of Cauthen ($1.90 favourite).
Weinholt ($5) finished a further two lengths adrift in third.
“He put a space in them. He won like a really good horse,” Hore-Lacy said.
Hore-Lacy revealed post-race race that he didn’t know how Clevadude would perform after missing two days of trackwork 10 days ago, due to boils on his wither.
“I didn’t have a bet on him but I guess if they win it doesn’t really matter does it,” he quipped.
Hore-Lacy said Clevadude would look to maintain his unbeaten record on Victorian tracks in the $135,000 Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 17.
“After that we’ll play it by ear.
“He looks just a dead set sprinter to me but we are hoping he can go on to the Caulfield Guineas but that’s just a hope,” Hore-Lacy added.
Clevadude has raced four times for three wins. His only defeat came when finishing fourteenth in the $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic (1200m) in January.
– TVN
