Flashback to Double Clutch’s maiden win.
There was hardly a dry eye in the house when Paul Lafferty’s Stronghold 4yo Double Clutch galloped his way to glory in Friday evening’s R135 000 Listed Easter Handicap at Greyville.
This was a first stakes victory and a hat-trick of wins to put the cherry on top of an amazing recovery for a gelding that just over a year ago was at death’s door.
He won his maiden at Greyville on 16 May 2014 and trainer Paul Laffery went on record at the time, saying:
“He had contracted West Nile Virus and was at death’s door. He couldn’t put one leg in front of the other. I must give all credit to our workrider, Higgins (Tara Oatley). She didn’t want to know about giving up on him and bizarrely the virus jumped species and she landed up spending a week in hospital herself. That is true dedication and love. I was so thrilled when he won his maiden.”
Paul Lafferty – has done well with Double Clutch
The Easter Handicap, formerly run at Clairwood, was a casualty of Sunday’s partly abandoned Scottsville meeting. Greyville proved the lucky third track for the homeless feature and the race was run in advance of the eight race programme.
Double Clutch faced seven decent opponents in the hands of Keagan De Melo, and none had any answers as he galloped all the way to win like a horse who has plenty in the tank.
He went off at 33-10 and beat Crime Victim by 1,50 lengths in a time of 121,59 secs.
Silver Spring stayed on for third in a blanket finish, with Gone Baby Gone grabbing fourth.
The 11-10 favourite Balance Sheet looked to be in need of the run after a 12 week break, and stayed on down the outside to be beaten just out of the places.
Keagan De Melo – mature and confident ride from the front
He should come on plenty with the benefit of the run.
The 3yo Double Clutch was named by his owner Ashley Williams,who is in the trucking business.
He has won 5 races with 2 places from 12 starts and R362 625 in stakes.
Derek Martin bred Double Clutch, who is by the ill-fated Stronghold out of the Northern Guest mare, Incremental, and was a R110 000 graduate from the Summerhill draft of the 2012 Ready To Run Sale.
Well done to the connections. Racing loves happy stories.
