Cliff's Edge Wins Group Two Alister Clark

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 17
Canford Cliffs (IRE) three year-old Cliff's Edge predictably made all the running to win Friday night's Group II MVRC Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Cliff's Edge - Darryl ShererIn contrast to his previous start in the Group IVRC Australian Guineas (1600m), Cliff's Edge was allowed an uncontested lead and it proved decisive.

With John Allen suspended, Jamie Mott took the ride and counted out metronomic sectionals until passing the 600m where he allowed Cliff's Edge to stride on and the $1.70 favourite was never seriously threatened.

Mott said he was content when Cliff's Edge relaxed for him after passing the post the first time.

"He went a little bit hard in the Guineas last start but he's clearly very well and they've done a great job with him," Mott said.

"He seems to enjoy bowling along - to the post the first time we were going a bit quick and I was thinking he'll have to be good to keep going at this rate.

"Fortunately they backed off me andhe came back underneath and once he did that it was all over.

"He's a high-class galloper and I'm very thankful to Darren Weir and the owners for giving me the opportunity to ride him."

Weir had won races earlier in the night with King's Command and Whispering Brook and said he relaxed when he saw Cliff's Edge alone in front.

"He's been down at Warrnambool and at the beach and freshened up a treat," Weir said.

"When I saw them back off him and let him slow up, Mottie got two or three cheap sectionals and I thought he would be hard to beat.

"He's got a great racing style and he's just a tough horse. We'll see how he comes through this and then think about going to Sydney."

A $60,000 purchase by Darren Weir Racing / John Foote Bloodstock from session two of the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Cliff's Edge has the overall record of sic wins and four seconds from 14 starts with prizemoney topping $800,000.

Cliff's Edge is the tenth foal of the Snaadee mare Simulation whose eight wins ranged in distance from 1100 metres to 3000 metres.

She is the dam of eight winners including the speedy Delago's Lad (Delago Brom) who was stakes-placed in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.

Simulation's unraced dam Wodgina (USA) (Verbatim) is a half-sister to the grand racemare All Along a 7-time Group I winner including the 1983 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Simulation died in November 2016. Her last foal a yearling colt by Danerich made $125,000 at the recent Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when secured by Darren Weir.


Advertisment
More Reading...
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Aussie Group Three Quinella South Africa
The Group III Three Troikas Stakes at Turffontein in south Africa produced a quinella for Aussie breds with Canford Cliffs (IRE) filly Fish River leading home San Femin, a daughter of Charge Forward.
Sir Delius Delivers G1 Turnbull Stakes Win
Adding Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m) to his Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) victory last start, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Sir Delius further enhanced his outstanding reputation ahead of an assault on the WS Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
A Group Three Reward for Princess Posh
Sixth in the race 12 months ago, Princess Posh made amends in Friday’s Group III Yarraman Park Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle.