Veteran jockey Tim Clark continues to demonstrate why he’s remained among Australia’s elite riders, notching his 26th Group 1 win aboard War Machine in last weekend’s Stradbroke Handicap—a full 17 years after claiming his first major in the 2008 The Galaxy with Typhoon Zed.
Clark’s remarkable longevity at the top level is fuelled by a relentless drive to keep improving and to partner his next big winner, something he admits is a constant source of motivation.
“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.”
While performing at Group 1 level, Clark is also maintaining a strong weekly output. Despite spending most Saturdays during the winter carnival riding in Brisbane, he sits fourth in the Sydney jockeys’ premiership with 55 wins—underscoring his consistency and strong stable support.
“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.”
Clark returns to Sydney this Saturday with seven bookings at Randwick, including a ride on Bases Loaded for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott—his biggest supporters—for the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m).
The four-year-old, now gelded, is expected to improve off his recent return and Clark believes he’s ready to show his best.
“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 quoted at $9.50 on Thursday, with first-up winner Headley Grange heading the market at $3.80.
Clark’s other key rides at Randwick include Shamarkand for Tulloch Lodge in The Living Turf Handicap (1800m) and Rotagilla for Chris Waller in the QMS Media Handicap (1600m).
