Racing: Clifton Tactic exciting prospect

Och Aye The Noo is starting to rediscover the form which led her to four wins last May and June. Photo by Matt Smith.
Och Aye The Noo is starting to rediscover the form which led her to four wins last May and June. Photo by Matt Smith.
Martin Denton's two starters at Forbury Park tonight present different challenges for the Mosgiel horseman.

First he gears up Clifton Tactic (race 2), who impressed on debut with a tidy third, then tackles the c2-c7 trot with Och Aye The Noo in race 5.

Denton took over the training of Clifton Tactic from owner-breeder Noel Bennett when he moved his training operation to Bennett's East Taieri base this time last year after selling his own property.

"She had some issues with her front feet,'' Denton explained.

"When she sprinted up she drifted out so we actually got [veterinarian] Pete Gillespie to X-ray them all and they weren't great.

"So we've had to keep her toes short. I've had to go to 2-degree shoes to straighten her feet up because they were growing out the front and growing distorted.''

Martin Denton.
Martin Denton.

The shoeing process on the filly is constantly being improved and refined but feet aside, Denton has always liked the look of the 3yr-old.

"She always looked good. When Noel was jogging her, I always liked the look of her, and she's such a lovely horse to work with, too. She always looked like she could run.''

The Washington VC filly was just fair in qualifying at Forbury Park in January, although Denton felt as if the filly might have come "to the end of it''.

"That's why we tipped her out in the paddock for a while,'' he said.

She was ready to go last week, however, finishing a good third for driver Rory McIlwrick despite starting from the outside of the front line.

"I said to one or two last week that if she had a decent draw, you'd just about to back her to win.

"Rory came back and was really positive about her.''

The draw is very much in the filly's favour this week, though, as she will leave the mobile gate from barrier 1, giving McIlwrick the option of leading or trailing.

"I don't think she's that good leading up, so he'll probably just get her out and wait for something to come around. Even if she's three back the fence, it won't be too bad.''

The recovery rate with Och Aye The Noo tells her story, and the news is positive after her useful effort for sixth last week.

Last week's feature trot was a pedestrian affair for much of the race, before winning driver Nathan Williamson sent The Jinja Ninja for home in 27 seconds over the last 400m.

Och Aye The Noo was 6.7 lengths back in sixth, but it was the mare's behaviour after the race which pleased Denton.

"She may have needed that run a wee bit, but i was really happy with her recovery rate,'' he said.

"That was the big issue she had last time she was in. Her recovery rate was very slow and she was blowing a lot.

But now after a run, five minutes later she's fine and her heart rate is nice and low. I'm very happy with her.''

Denton felt the mare did all she could off her 30m mark, and does not expect the tempo to be so mixed this week.

"I'm not worried about the 30m as long as they have a good genuine pace and with Bobbins in this week, I don't think Nathan [Williamson] will get away with that again.''

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