Not to be outdone by his half-brother Not A Single Cent breaking his maiden in the Group 11 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington moments earlier, crowd favourite Happy Clapper charged home to down a gallant Global Glamour in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Blake Shinn for trainer Pat Webster, Happy Clapper was making his first start since finishing second to Tosen Stardom in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 11.
The 7yo gelded son of Darley Stud's Galileo stallion Teofilo (IRE), travelled sweetly in the run as Global Glamour made the early running with an uncontested lead.
While she battled on gamely Global Glamour could not hold off the finish of the powerfully built Happy Clapper who won handily by one and a quarter lengths with Invincible Gem one and a half lengths back in third. (photo Steve Hart).
It was the fifth stakes win and the second at the highest level for the Michael Thomas homebred advancing his record to 10 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $3,875,800.
It took Webster 40 years to win his first Group 1 when Happy Clapper captured last years Epsom Handicap.
"I could get used to this," Webster said.
"I'm on a roll, imagine if we had more than six horses.
"When I saw him in the enclosure today I thought he would run great."
"I just hope I haven't taken too much out of him first-up but who cares. It is a Group 1 and he can probably run second now to the great mare (Winx in the Rawson Stakes) and then be a chance in the Doncaster.
"With $290,000 for running second, I'm not dodging anybody."
Happy Clapper has finished second in the past two Doncasters behind Winx (2016) and It's Somewhat last year.
Not A Single Cent has some way to go to equal the feats of his half-brother, however, it took him four starts less to break his maiden and 11 starts less to earn his first stakes win.
Making just his second start after finishing a close-up fifth at Caulfield when making his career debut at Caulfield on February 21, the Aaron Purcell-trained son of Not A Single Doubt came with a barnstorming finish to claim Saturday's Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Not A Single Cent defeated Seberate (Sebring)) by a half-length with Akkadian (Nicconi) the same margin away third. (photo Grant Courtney)
"He's a big strong colt. He's been in work quite a while and has handled his work really well and everything's worked out well today," Purcell said
"He gives us the impression he'll run 2000 metres in the spring and the 1400m is the shortest trip that he'll be effective at."
Not A Single Cent was purchased by Ciaron Maher Racing for $280,000 out of the Willow Park draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale.
Soon to return from suspension, Ciaron Maher is likely to take back the reins on Not A Single Cent who is now likely to head to Sydney where for the AJC Sires' Produce and the Champagne Stakes
Happy Clapper is the fifth foal and Not A Cent the eighth foal of the Encosta de Lago mare Busking, who was purchased for $13,000 by Michael Thomas from Darley Stud at the Inglis Melbourne March Thoroughbred Sale back in 2010.
Busking won just one of her 16 starts but she was a half-sister to Pat Webster's dual Group III winner and Group 1 Galaxy Stakes runner-up Thankgodyou'rehere (Secret Savings).
At the time of her sale, Busking was carrying Happy Clapper.
Busking, who is also the dam of the multiple stakes-placed Commands mare Gig who was sold at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $300,000.
Sadly, Busking died in January last year. Her final foal is a yearling colt by Not A Single Doubt.
Not A Single Cent becomes the 52nd stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud's Not A Single Doubt.
