Outsider Cameo scored an upset win in the Listed $200,000 Emirates Park Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone today for Darley’s new trainer John O’Shea.
Sam Clipperton gave Cameo a perfect ride to win the Scone Cup. Photo by Daniel Costello.
In-form apprentice Sam Clipperton wrapped up a winning double on Scone Cup day with a master ride on the O’ Shea trained Cameo ($21), helped by an inside barrier draw, after winning the previous race on Tail Risk for trainer Paul Messara.
Clipperton was able to give the Shamardal mare a cosy run on the fence behind the leaders as opposed to her last start when she had to jump from gate thirteen when thirteenth to stablemate Aerobatics in the Group 3 $150,000 The 2014 Darley Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury on May 3.
“Coming into today without being too optimistic I was confident she was going to put in an improved run, whether she could beat these I wasn’t certain,” Clipperton said.
“You didn’t have to go back too far, Cox Plate day I think it was, she run second to Catkins, so the form was there.”
“Back on the firmer surface certainly helped, and drawn the rails I was able to get a beautiful run, I just put her to sleep and she did the rest.”
The country trained Collar ($15) with Racheal Murray in the saddle set a good tempo and Clipperton was able to peel off the leaders back at the top of the straight giving Cameo ($21) a clear run to the line to beat the Peter Moody trained Full Of Spirit ($16) and Loaded ($9) from the Gosford stables of Grant Allard.
The win of Cameo overshadowed the disappointed early in the day when stablemate and Scone Cup fancy Wistful was scratched after banging her head in the float on the way to racecourse.
Hopefully the injury is only minor and Managing Director of Darley Australia, Henry Plumtre, said both Cameo and Wistful would now be heading to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival.
“It was bad luck for Wistful. Both these mares will probably go on for Brisbane,” Plumptre said.
“On top of the ground she (Cameo) is a very good mare and I thought young Sammy gave her a very good ride,” Plumptre said.
“She is a good mare but she is not good enough to overcome a wide barrier and a wet track. But everything went right today.”
“We are delighted. Scone is our home town, it is where all our horses are bred, it’s fantastic.”
Race favourite Mecir ($4.60) was given a sweet ride by James McDonald but faded in the straight to finish last in the fourteen horse field.
