Please wait...

Clayton Douglas | Clayton Douglas News

LATEST NEWS

Giga Kick back bigger, stronger

12:00 • Friday • 19 April 2024

Clayton Douglas' star sprinter Giga Kick is back bigger and stronger and could return to the racetrack as soon as July, according to the Mornington-based trainer. The four-year-old has been recovering from muscle tears to his hamstring and hip and hasn't raced since the McEwen Stakes last September. But while Douglas has been keeping himself and his champion galloper out of the spotlight for the past few months, he says he's thrilled with the condition the striking chestnut gelding has come back in ahead of his racing return. "He's come along really well, we're really happy with him," he said. "He's very happy within himself too and has been doing everything right and ticking all the boxes. "Physically, he's matured so much, he's come back in great order and (I'm) looking forward to getting him back to the races." Story by Kate Watts. For full story visit Racing.com - click

Named after a queen & now a race winner too

12:00 • Sunday • 7 April 2024

It was a long trip to Avoca but well worth it after Nefertiti scored her first career win. Google proves to be the go to when naming many a racehorse and the daughter of American Pharoah was aptly named after one of the most mysterious and powerful women in ancient Egypt. Nefertiti was queen alongside Pharaoh Akhenaten from 1353 to 1336 B.C and the owners of the equine version thinks she was queen of Avoca! Gaining a start after being second emergency in the 1100m maiden, the 3yr old filly jumped from barrier 5 with our very own Paul Gatt onboard. “Gatty” let Nefertiti use her natural speed to roll straight to the lead from barrier 5. She was never headed to win by 0.3L with a clear margin to the 3rd horse. A $70,000 purchase from the 2022 Inglis Classic Sale, Nefertiti sees some of the stables most loyal clients as part of the ownership, including several of the staff. It was the fillies first win from only 2 starts, and the first run for the preparation. Congratulations to all connections.

Another winner for Trapeze Artist

12:00 • Friday • 15 March 2024

A late night at Pakenham was rewarded with an impressive win by Gallant Prince, aka Ralph. The big colt proved too good over 1400m in the BM64 event when resuming with Daniel Stackhouse on board. Jumping second from the outside, “Ralphy” found the lead and stayed there. Held together until straightening, he let down 200m from home for a comfortable 2L win. It was Gallant Prince’s second win from six starts and a big group of owners were on course to cheer him home. “I’ve got some high hopes for him” said his trainer, Clayton Douglas. “I’ve got a great ownership group behind me and they’ve been very patient. We’ve taken our time with this colt and I think he’ll get out to 2000m, and especially on soft tracks I think we’ll see the best of him. He’s a nice horse going forward”. Jockey, Daniel Stackhouse was also impressed with the win. “It’s my first time sitting on him and he gave me a beautiful feel. Drew a sticky gate and only way to get over that is to be positive (with) the way the tracks racing tonight with that wind. He did the rest and when I asked him to quicken from the corner and cruise through his gears he finished off nicely”. Purchased by Clayton at the 2022 Inglis Classic Sale for $135,000, the son of Trapeze Artist has had 6 starts for 2 wins and 2 seconds. From a winning Zabeel mare in Southern Venture, herself stakes placed, all signs indicate the colt will relish the 2000m when the time comes. Knowing he had a handy colt on his hands, Clayton was very keen to secure another son of Trapeze Artist at the recent Inglis Classic Sale. Similarly bred, the new colt is from an O’Reilly mare, O’Princess, who won 6 times from 1300-2010m. Purchased for only $65,000, ownership opportunities still exist and visit our website or contact the stable for further information. You can also check him out in the following video:

Sheeza Toronado worth the wait

12:00 • Sunday • 3 March 2024

Patience is a virtue they say…and some would argue no more so than in racing. The Toronado mare, Sheeza Toronado, undoubtably tested many peoples patience before her debut start at Pakenham today. A list of injuries, stitches and even a broken nose over her first 4 years of life would have seen many owners give up. But a big pat on the back for breeders and owners Mark & Michelle McFarlane who loved and supported “Roxy” throughout. The quirky mare was ridden by our very own Paul Gatt in the 1000m maiden for 4yr and upwards. Jumping from barrier 3, Gatty let the mare settle just off the pace. She was quite green in the later stages & needed a couple of whip changes to keep her straight, but horse and jockey didn’t let the team down. “She over raced a bit the first part, they didn’t go overly quick coming out of the chute….(they) left us a bit flat footed but she able to go through her gears and I’m glad it was a long straight” said Paul Gatt post race. A big congratulations goes out to the McFarlane family for entrusting us with Sheeza Toronado and always putting her welfare first. The team at Clayton Douglas Racing thanks you for being such great owners.

Epic Centre too tough at The Valley

12:00 • Friday • 1 March 2024

It was a late night for Clayton Douglas after both training and strapping Epic Centre at Moonee Valley Friday night. But it was worth it. Epic Centre has failed at both his previous attempts at the Valley, but a superb ride by Jamie Mott was the charm. Jumping from barrier 4, Mott let the 4yr old gelding stride to the lead and do what he does best….just go fast. He looked to be headed in the straight but fought bravely to win in a head bobbing finish over the 1000m. “He’d come back a big bigger than I’d like from a spell so it’s taken a bit of time to get the weight off and get him fit” said Douglas. “He’s been a really good horse for the team and I’m just wrapt to get him back into form”. The win gave Jamie Mott a double for the night. “He’s a gun young trainer” said Jamie when referring to his training mate. “He was confident tonight and he had him fit enough to run his best race. I just applied those tactics to just let him run along and I was surprised one was with me….but he really dug deep and was able to get the bob of the head.” The 5th win from 17 starts, the Rosemont bred and raced Epic Centre has taken his winnings to over $200,000. Congratulations to the team at Rosemont Stud & our own team at the Mornington stable.

Virtucon one to watch

12:00 • Sunday • 25 February 2024

Giga Kick is back in the stable but all eyes were on the Pariah filly at Moe carrying the famous Pinecliff colours today. An unlucky 4th on debut at Benalla had the 3yr old filly, Virtucon, go into her Moe start as a firm $1.85 favourite. Daniel Stackhouse was given the reins for the second run and he made sure to keep her out of trouble. Jumping from barrier 5 over 1200m, “Stackie” let the filly settle just behind midfield and kept her off the fence. Coming into the straight they peeled out wide to comfortably over run the leaders in the last 100m. “We’ve always had an opinion of this filly” said her trainer, Clayton Douglas. “She might get over a bit of ground too so plenty of options going forward”. Congratulations to the team at Pinecliff Racing for breeding and racing this smart filly.

Super Bowl time & Gronk does it again

12:00 • Friday • 9 February 2024

The Super Bowl is only days away and the name Gronkowski is still winning…albeit at Pakenham on a Thursday night rather than one of the world’s biggest sporting stages. But the team at Clayton Douglas Racing and Rosemont Stud will take it! Rob Gronkowski is a 4 time Super Bowl winner and one wonders if he knows of his namesake who last night scored his 3rd race win in impressive style. The big 4yr old Starcraft gelding, also fondly known as “Gronk”, scored his second win from as many starts this preparation when winning the GG Engineering 0-64 Handicap over 1200m. Jumping from the outside gate from the chute start, jockey Thomas Stockdale kept a level head and let the big gelding stride 4 wide outside the lead. No need to panic coming into the straight and 250m from home Gronkowski took over the lead, never in doubt to win by 2L. His first career win was a 3 length victory over 1600m, showing great versatility from the lightly raced gelding with the recent 2 wins both over 1200m. Bred and raced by Rosemont Stud, “Gronk” takes his prizemoney to over $78,000 from 11 starts with 3 wins and 2 seconds to his name. Congratulations to all involved.

Two out of three for Speranzoso

12:00 • Saturday • 27 January 2024

Sent to Clayton Douglas as a “challenge”, Speranzoso has earned a new tag….tough. Carrying 61 kg, the English bred son of Siyouni dominated his rivals for a tough win at Caulfield on Australia Day in the Tile Importer Trophy (Bm64) over 2400 metres. From Barrier 9 he crossed the field to lead by 2 lengths in a bold, front running ride by Damien Lane. He was joined and headed on the turn by the eventual runner up in Untethered but proved too strong to fight back and win by 0.75L. It was his 9th start for the preparation with all but 2 of those starts resulting in wins or placings. His prizemoney now climbs to almost $120,000 and he’s showing no signs of needing a break. A credit to Clayton and his team with the big horse thriving in work at Mornington. “He’s had a big preparation and keeps training on really well” said his trainer, Clayton Douglas. “I was pretty confident coming into today”. It was jockey, Damian Lanes, 81st victory in the state for the season. An impressive record with 6 months still remaining for the world class jockey. “He’s got a very strong character this horse and you basically sit on him and hold him as slow as you can. He wants to go and rates himself” said Damian. “He had to really fight because he was well and truly headed (in the straight), but that’s a good attribute of his. He’s got good stamina and held his gallop all the way to the line.” Congratulations to all Speranzoso’s connections and OTI Racing who have been great supporters of the stable since day one.

Speranzoso scores his second win

12:00 • Friday • 22 December 2023

Originally coming to Clayton Douglas Racing as the “problem” horse from the UK, Speranzoso is proving that patience and horsemanship are a winning combination. A quirky horse that has caused his shares of difficulties, his Cranbourne win tonight was dominant. A bold, front running ride by Jordan Childs had the opposition run off their feet with an impressive 8 length win. Coming off a couple of credible seconds, the 2580m at Cranbourne suited Speranzoso who was able to roll and dictate the event and was too strong over that distance. “He’s done a terrific job and out to a trip that suits. Great ride by Jordan” said his trainer, Clayton Douglas. “He has nice promise and a horse with staying ability. Plenty more races to win with him” From his 10 Australian runs he’s been knocking on the door with 4 seconds and Cranbourne notched up his second career win. He’ll now be nominated for the Auckland Cup and congratulations to OTI Racing and a patient group of owners who are being rewarded.

1 - 9 of 57
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Sharnee Rose | Racing Manager

Address: PO Box 1177
Mornington, 3931 VICTORIA

M: +61 401 363 812

E: racing@claytondouglasracing.com.au

CONTACT US