CLICKETY SNIP will have a new rider when the four-year-old gelding runs in next Tuesday’s $20,000 South Muswellbrook Cup (1450m).
Robert Thompson rode, and won on, the son of Snippetson at Tamworth last start but the HNWRA’s leading jockey has elected to remain on the Todd Howlett-trained Quindelop, who resumed with an impressive second to Boomerang in the Denman Cup at Muswellbrook last week.
“He’s the horse to beat too,” Clickety Snip’s Scone trainer Greg Bennett said yesterday of Quindelop.
“RT was pretty keen to ride Clickety Snip but he decided to stay with Quindelop.” Bennett wasn’t surprised as it was an impressive effort first up behind Boomerang in that Denman Cup, the first leg of three major Cups races at Muswellbrook continuing with Tuesday’s South Muswellbrook Cup and finishing with the November 6 $60,000 Muswellbrook Cup (1500m).
Tuesday’s South Muswellbrook Cup is also developing into a good race as well with the likes of Boomerang, Dubbo Cup runner-up Double Halo, Final Conflict, Pesci and Prior Baron also amongst the nominations yesterday.
“He’s done well (since Tamworth win),” Bennett said.
“He had a tough run first up after a long break, that’s why I’ve had a little gap between runs,” he said.
“The 1450m should suit him but it should also be a good little race too. A little of rain would be good, just need a little give in teh track.
“Most of these horses will all be testing for a Muswellbrook Cup start too.
“That’s what we are aiming at with him and then maybe go back to Sydney with him. It will be nice to pick up a couple of local wins first. He’s up to city class. The 1450m shouldn’t be a problem for him either and the step up to 1500m after that as well.”
Clickety Snip has won five of his last six starts and is yet to finish out of a place in nine runs.
He’s part of a strong stable with Bennett returning to Sydney with Oh My Papa on Saturday and then heading back to Tamworth tomorrow week with three young horses.
Oh My Papa was an unlucky third at Randwick’s Kensington track last time out and Bennett believes she can continue her impressive metro form.
“She's tough little thing,” he said.
“She is stepping up to the 1800m this time though. She’s drawn a good gate and is down in the weights. I think she’ll run a big race.”
While he isn’t racing at Gunnedah Jockey Club’s Manilla Cup meeting on Saturday stable apprentice Courtney van der Werf has a “full book”.
“She’s going along well,” he said.
“She’s equal first on the state apprentices premiership and won the Bundarra Cup on Lea Selby’s horse (Rhodonite) last Saturday. That was a great effort up there.”
o Nominations for Tamworth Jockey Club’s Friday, October 19 meeting close 11am Monday.
