News

Clinking charges home in Sandown opener

2nd Jun 2012

Racenet - Brad Waters - Saturday, 2 June 2012

Promising filly Clinking has provided the Anthony Cummings stable with plenty to consider with her impressive win in Saturday’s Jim Conway Handicap (1200m) at Sandown Lakeside.

Cummings’s stable foreman Dan Williams said the Randwick-based trainer planned to spell the filly after Saturday’s $70,000 race but Clinking’s win may prompt a rethink.

"Before today we weren’t sure. I’ll have to talk to the big fella (Cummings),” Williams said. "The plan is probably to go out and have a crack at the spring.”

Clinking (pictured as yearling) scored on debut over 1100 metres at Ballarat before the daughter of Churchill Downs found the 1000 metres too short when third at Sandown on May 23.

"Back to the 1000 metres second-up didn’t quite suit. She was off the bit for most of the race,” Williams said. "It was time to see her stretch out up to 1200 (metres).”

Clinking relished the rise in distance at her latest assignment. Jockey Nick Hall gave the youngster plenty of time to balance behind a strong speed before Clinking swept home over the top of her rivals to score by a widening four lengths.

"She was really good, really strong through the line,” Hall said. "She was very fit in those conditions, in that ground, with the fast tempo.

"It worked out really well for us. She still had to show a good turn of foot on a heavy track and I was glad she did.”

Titania Star’s rider Damian Lane looked confident of winning when he allowed the filly to stride up to join Good And Hot in the straight but Clinking quickly consigned the duo to a race for second over the last 200 metres.

Titania Star finished a half-length ahead of Good And Hot while the Mick Price-trained Di Lusso finished fourth.

Bred by Mr N Miller CLINKING (2f Churchill Downs x Three Cheers) was purchased by Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds for $70,000 at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Makybe.