Tim Clark showed his enduring class once again with a thrilling Group 1 victory aboard War Machine in the Stradbroke Handicap last weekend, adding a 26th major to his illustrious riding career. His first came back in 2008, also at Group 1 level, when he won The Galaxy on Typhoon Zed.
Seventeen years on, Clark remains a mainstay among the country’s top jockeys, driven by the desire to uncover his next star mount or land another feature race win.
“There is always something to keep you motivated, whether that’s a horse or a certain race,” Clark said.
“It gets you up, even in these colder months, and a lot of the good horses are coming back into work (now) or will be in the next few weeks.
“It can be a grind at certain times, but generally there is always something around the corner to look forward to.”
Clark’s form hasn’t only held up at Group 1 level. Despite spending most of the winter carnival riding in Brisbane, he sits fourth in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 55 wins—a testament to his consistency and strong backing from leading stables.
“I’ve had really good support throughout and been able to capitalise on a few of those opportunities,” he said.
“It’s nice to be sitting high up on the ladder.
“I’ve spent the majority of the last two months away on Saturdays but that has been very rewarding as well. All in all it has been a top season.”
This Saturday, Clark will return to Randwick with seven rides, including Bases Loaded in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, long-time supporters of his career.
The four-year-old has been gelded this preparation and comes into the race fitter after a first-up run, with Clark liking what he’s seen in trials.
“He has been gelded this prep and he does seem to be coming up well,” Clark said.
“The run under his belt won’t hurt him but I still think he’s going well enough to run a forward race.
“Fortunately, in a big field he has drawn soft. He will race somewhere near the speed but he might be able to have a cosy run just in behind them, conserve a bit of energy and he could surprise fresh.”
Bases Loaded was rated a $9.50 chance on Thursday, while Headley Grange heads the market at $3.80.
Clark’s book also includes Shamarkand in The Living Turf Handicap (1800m) and Rotagilla for Chris Waller in the QMS Media Handicap (1600m).
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