Epsom Handicap hero Happy Clapper remains winless in five attempts at 2000m after going down narrowly to Gary Moore's Classic Uniform in the revamped Craven Plate at Randwick on Saturday.
Happy Clapper started as short as $1.50 in the $500,000 Group III event but was unable to reel in Classic Uniform ($21) on a day where backmarkers struggled to make up ground.
"Great run. We rode him to get the distance today. Loomed at the 300m. Ideally not the right part of the track but he still ran well," Happy Clapper's jockey Blake Shinn said.
The winning margin was a long head while the Chris Waller-trained McCreery ($11) finished 1-1/4 lengths back in third.
Moore was his jovial self as he sauntered out onto the track to lead Classic Uniform and jockey Tim Clark back to the winner's stall.
"What else can he do? He's so brave," Moore said.
"2000m is probably just his limit so I said to Tim don't let him go until we get to the 600m today.
"When he changed legs at the 100m he found a length and that is what has made the difference."
Moore indicated that Classic Uniform, now a winner of almost $1 million in prizemoney, would likely be targeted at races during the remainder of the spring carnival in Melbourne.
