McClymont has a night to remember at Addington

Southland harness racing trainer Gay McClymont had a night she’ll never forget at Addington last night, winning two races and in a career highlight achieving a Group Two win with her six year old mare Rata (Muscle Mass).

In the $60,000 Continental Event Hire Grand Duchess Mares Handicap, driver Jonny Cox got Rata away safely from the ten metre mark. After sitting parked for the first part of the race Cox pressed forward to take the lead before handing up to George Elliot. Those two put a break on the field and made it hard for the backmarkers.

With 600 metres to run George Elliot rolled off the inside which gifted Rata a run through. Cox then put the foot down and created good space between his horse and the likely challengers and Rata trotted down to the line to win by four and a half lengths with I Dream Of Jeannie (20 metres) finishing second.

“I’m just a little bit excited (laughter). I didn’t expect to win and I kind of thought we might get a place, but it’s a lovely surprise. A big ups to Jonny for his drive,” McClymont said.

RATA REPLAY

Gay watched the race from the stand with her daughter Kirsty Adams and good friend Trevor Cross.

“She’s called Big and under my breath I was saying ‘come on Big – come on Big’. I wasn’t yelling (laughter).”

Rata who started racing as a four year old has had limited starts over three seasons, but this season McClymont who has had lots of challenges with the mare to this point, has been able to give her fourteen races.

“It goes right back to when she was weaned. She was in a box and knocked herself around quite badly and may have done something quite bad to her shoulder. I learned to do quite a bit of work on that shoulder and have got it to a point where she’s happy.”

McClymont gives Rata body treatment and was quick to acknowledge the help she’s received from Sara Bagheri from Zoominals SportsVet.

“She comes down to Southland every three months and has pointed me in the right direction. It’s pretty simple but it’s made a huge difference. It’s just working with the horse’s muscles.”

After trotting into good form in Southland, McClymont decided Rata was going well enough to head to Addington for the Group Two mares’ race and once on course the new experience excited her mare.

“We were parked right next to where the TV set was. When she came in, her eyes lit up and she was absolutely glued to the racehorses on the TV. This is a big stage for a little girl from the country (laugher).”

Both Rata and her half-sister Styrax (Creatine) have been staying with Cross who spent a few years on the Gore HRC committee with McClymont.

“He’s a good friend who moved up to Canterbury about three years ago. He’s just out at Dunsandel. They’re happy as anything there and it’s stress free. I’m very grateful to have good friends. I’m grateful for Trev having us.”

Owned by Gay and her husband Nick, last night’s win was Rata’s fifth in twenty two starts.

She’s out of Larix, a Safely Kept mare that won ten races for McClymont including the Group Three Four Year Championship in 2011 paying $50.60.

“This is a step up isn’t it. It’s a Group Two.”

Larix’s fourth dam Haakondahl left Sapling which won twenty two races for Gay’s family including the Auckland Cup, Easter Cup and New Zealand Messenger.

So what’s next for Rata? The new $100,000 Queen Of Diamonds at Alexandra Park?

“Absorb this and get her home in one piece. I was just saying the other day that I’ve got big and brave by going to Christchurch. You never know, I might go to Auckland. I took Larix up there twice and didn’t have an ounce of luck. This mare deserves her chance I think. She quite likes going that way round. I’ve been shearing sheep and drafting lambs and haven’t had time to look that far ahead. It was good to get away. I said to someone the other day I can see the wall looming and I’m going to hit it shortly.”

In the last race of the night Rata’s little sister Styrax made it a night to remember for McClymont.

From the mobile dispatch driver Brad Williamson settled the five year old mare into the outside running line before going to the top with a lap to run.

At the end of the 1980 metres Styrax was three and a quarter lengths clear of Master Class.

STYRAX REPLAY

“Since they’ve come up here they’ve been little fish in the big sea. They’re not on their home ground so they’ve decided to be friends, which they’re not normally. Kirsty has just taken Styrax away and Rata is just going nuts.”
It was the first time the Whiterig based trainer has won two races on the same card and to do it on a Premier night at Addington was special.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink