Has there been a more deserving winner of a feature Randwick mile than Teofilo's crowd pleaser Happy Clapper?
The seven-year-old gelding owns runner-up finishes in two Doncaster Miles and a third in the Group I Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
With a heart as big as his imposing frame, Happy Clapper, under an inspired ride by Blake Shinn, staved off the enigmatic Tom Melbourne to claim Saturday's $1 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick and provide veteran trainer Pat Webster with his first Group I winner. (photos Steve Hart)
Webster divides his time between training and working for Racing NSW as an accredited drug and alcohol counsellor.
"This is my greatest moment in racing," an emotional Webster said.
"We've had 16 Group winners and this is our first Group I, wow.
"This will be it, Clapper's it. I won't have
"I thought Blake (Shinn) was a bit close in the
"I thought he was a bit close but he was travelling.
"Then I thought of the 57 (kg) with Tom Melbourne chasing and then I realised who Tom Melbourne was with the colours and I said, "If Clapper
''Having said that my condolences to the second horse but it is well done. Great horse and he deserved it."
Webster said the son of Teofilo was likely to take his place in the $500,000 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick on October 14 now that Winx has defected to Melbourne.
"Someone said there's a race here in a fortnight," Webster said.
"He's seen enough of Winx and you know what? So, have I."
It was the fourth stakes win for the Michael Thomas homebred advancing his record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds from 26 starts with earnings of $3,029,800.
He is the fifth foal of the Encosta de Lago mare Busking, who was purchased for $13,000 by Michael Thomas from Darley Stud at the Inglis Melbourne March Thoroughbred Sale back in 2010.
Busking won just one of her 16 starts but she was a half-sister to Pat Webster's dual Group III winner and Group 1 Galaxy Stakes runner-up Thankgodyou'rehere (Secret Savings).
At the time of her sale, Busking was carrying Happy Clapper.
Happy Clapper is one of five winners from as many to race out of Busking, who is also the dam of the multiple stakes-placed Commands mare Gig who was sold at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $300,000.
Busking has a 3yo full-brother to Happy Clapper, a 2-year-old colt by Not A Single Doubt that sold Ciaron Maher Racing for $280,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale.
Sadly, Busking died in January this year. Her final
Happy Clapper becomes the 14th Group I winner for Darley Stud's world-class stallion Teofilo(IRE) who celebrated stakes success earlier in the day with Godolphin's promising Ataraxia in the Dulcify Stakes.
