Clairvoyance Underlines Huge Potential
The cream rose to the top in the Crown Perth 3YO Classic (1000m) with exciting speedster Clairvoyance emerging triumphant in the $100,000 feature race at Ascot.
Her dominant two length victory capped a top day for jockey Chris Parnham who earlier booted home Double Digit, Truly Great and Inspirational Girl.
A daughter of Nostradamus, Clairvoyance flashed big potential at Belmont in July and August with three wins from as many starts, but sealed her first victory at Ascot.
Extending her unbeaten sequence to four and validating hot favouritism, trainer Darren McAuliffe said Clairvoyance’s win confirmed she was a rising star.
“The ratings from the winter suggested she was above average and she has come back in great order,” McAuliffe said.
“The world is her oyster.”
The David Harrison-trained Gemma’s Son, a brilliant first-up winner two weeks ago, was sent out the second favourite and considered the only horse capable of toppling Clairvoyance.
Under Paul Harvey, the $2.90 chance sped across from barrier eight and took up the front-running duties with Clairvoyance sent by Parnham to sit on his outside and apply the pressure.
As the field of nine panned for home at the top of the straight the race was effectively shot to pieces and all over with Clairvoyance sprinting home magnificently over the final 200m.
Queen Brown ran on strongly for second after missing the start with Gemma’s Son wilting to finish third.
Despite Clairvoyance recording three runaway wins by leading previously, McAuliffe said he wasn’t bothered if she was taken on for the lead.
“We were happy to take a sit,” McAuliffe said.
“As I said on radio the other day she will get to her cruising speed, she’ll do her thing and we won’t ride her out of her comfort zone.
“It would be arrogant of me to say I wasn’t surprised because Gemma’s Son is a bloody good horse, full respect to him.
“He’s only had his colours lowered once before today, but she is a rare beast.”
Clairvoyance is certain to have her price slashed for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in November after she was rated a $5 chance with Tabtouch before Saturday’s win.
A guarded McAuliffe would not be drawn on her Ascot carnival programme.
“There is a note pad on my desk and she will be nominated for the Winterbottom, The Fruit ‘N’ Veg (Kingston Town Classic) and WA Guineas,” McAuliffe said.
Julio Santarelli