Art on display at Addington

Comeback harness racing pacer Life Of Art (Art Major) showed plenty of grit when he held off two strong challenges to win his fourth race at Addington today (Apr. 8).

Originally trained by Darryn Simpson the gelding won his first race at Kurow in August 2021 as a three year old and finished his season off at Addington in October when he ran tenth, but he clearly had issues. 

“For a horse that wasn’t right, Darryn did a good job getting two wins. We just thought he was sore so he went to the beach, but he was no better there so that’s why we put the dye through him. It’s not cheap but I took a punt,” owner Gary Clarke said. 

Dye is sometimes run through horses to help locate problems as it is with humans and after running it through Life Of Art it was discovered the horse had a weak bone in a back leg.

“Peter Gillespie (Vet) said that once horses turn four you can inject them to help strengthen the bones.”

Life Of Art was then off the scene for over two years, completely missing his four year old season. He recommenced racing at the Waikouaiti meeting in February this year for new trainer Amber Hoffman. 

Clarke said the horse was jogged for two months before Hoffman got a bit more serious with him.

“Originally he couldn’t trot, and he just cantered but since he’s been injected he can trot. Amber says they strengthen up a lot better if they trot.”

Since being with Hoffman he’s started six times for two wins and two minor placings.

In today’s race driver Blair Orange went forward early and wrestled the lead off Coachella (Sweet Lou) before setting up a steady tempo in front. Heading for home, Life Of Art had a narrow lead and it looked as though both Coachella and Ardens Delight (Bettor’s Delight) were going to run him down. But under the urging of Orange, Life Of Art fought back to beat Coachella by half a neck with Arden’s Delight a head back in third.

LIFE OF ART REPLAY

The 1980 metres was run in 2-23.6 (1-56.6 mile rate) with the last 800 metres in 59.1. 

“He’s only had a handful of starts and I reckon next year he should be even better.”

Life Of Art is out of Nicky’s Ideal (Western Ideal) and was bred by Clarke after he’d bought and raced two of the mare’s first foals Parama (Bettor’s Delight) and Nikasa (Bettor’s Delight). 

“After I bought the first two foals Paul asked me if I wanted to buy the mare.”

Life Of Art was the first foal Clarke bred from Nicky’s Ideal.

He has also bred Ideal Dance (A Rocknroll Dance) out of the mare who won once for Simpson before he was sold to Australia where he’s won a further two races. He has a three year old gelding by Sweet Lou out of the mare and a two year old filly by the same stallion. 

Clarke is beginning to rebuild his horse numbers after having become so annoyed with the government’s handling of Covid that he sold half his racehorses. One of which was Have No Fear (Father Patrick) which he sold for $100,000.

“So I’ve had to start from scratch again. I’ve got ten two year olds and ten yearlings.”

He’s particularly excited about a two year old he has in Nathan Williamson’s stable which he bought privately for good money. Named Ultimate Weapon, the two year old by Bettor’s Delight is a full brother to Ultimate Sniper the winner of fourteen races and $842,792.

Ultimate Weapon is due to go to the workouts in the next few weeks.   

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink