Clark On Road To Contentment At One Horsepower

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday December 12, 2005

Craig Young cyoung@access.fairfax.com.au

TIM Clark has some sound advice for those in a rut. Clark, who plays a vital role in the stables of Gai Waterhouse, John O'Shea, Kevin Moses and co, has found a niche and with it peace.

Not only of body but spirit and mind. This horse trainer has never been happier. There was a time when Clark was working up to 40 horses. It drove him to the brink. He admitted to becoming sour and embittered with the thoroughbred game.

He was spending more time at the races than working with his animals. There was the constant travel. He reckons he spent more time in the car than with his horses. Something had to give. Clark was going round the twist.

He wasn't enjoying what he once considered to be the best job in the world. The training of thoroughbreds was a chore. A day-to-day bore. Clark went to the boss, well-known race player Bob Lapointe, and had a chat.

Clark reckons he was straight to the point. He told Lapointe it was black and white. Sure, he was a horse trainer and manager of Lapointe's picturesque pre-training and spelling farm at Muskoka on the banks of the Hawkesbury River up Wiseman's Ferry way.

But it was no longer fun. Training his own horses while putting a foundation into horses for Waterhouse, O'Shea and co wasn't being carried out to the best of his ability. That grated on Clark.

He farmed off all his horses and concentrated on the pre-training for others. How good was that? There was no chasing owners for outstanding training bills. Peace arrived, knowing Waterhouse and co pay for a job well done. They pay on time.

So Clark is now training just one horse, Radetzky March. Clark and long-time client Boyd Higgins raced the grey's dam Gioia Mia. The mare won up to a mile before breaking down. It was decided to breed with her and Clark would train the progeny.

They have a young relation to Radetzky March by Dr Fong. Clark reckons it goes all right but needs time because of immaturity, which was also the case with Radetzky March.

It was refreshing to speak with Clark after Radetzky March returned from a torn hamstring - the trainer assures us horses have hamstrings - to win in style at Rosehill on Saturday. Clark has no idea what is next for the winner of seven from 11.

He reckoned the first-up win blew him away, just like everyone else. How good was that? A refreshingly honest appraisal in a game where bullshit is the universal currency.

Now, what about Malcolm's bid for a place in next Saturday's Villiers Stakes at Randwick?

The winner of five from eight, Malcolm was in winning action at Rosehill on Saturday and impressed a tad more than Radetzky March. The fear is Malcolm will not gain a start in the Villiers. Well, Racing NSW handicappers now have a chance to impress.

There is a 52-kilogram limit to handicaps in the Villiers, but Malcolm might need a couple more kilos to ensure he gains a start.

Handicappers should give the horse what is required to ensure it makes the cut. What's that about the handicapping always being right?