Aftermath well-placed to make Cup presence felt

[Wandering Eyes]

Surprise weight-for-age packet Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) will be more in his comfort zone at Pukekohe Park this weekend.

The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained six-year-old will step out in Saturday’s Gr.3 Myracehorse Counties Cup (2100m) after coping admirably with a major rise in class in his two lead-up performances.

The son of Rock ‘N’ Pop finished in behind the major players at Ellerslie in both the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m).

“At weight-for-age, he surprised me with those couple of fourths and back in a handicap he’s definitely a better chance,” Shaun Clotworthy said.

“His owner Terry Lines likes to have some of his horses racing on the bigger days if he can, and it just worked out that he was ready for 2000m and there weren’t many other options.

“He’d had a different preparation with races called off and the timing was right for him to get up to that distance, and he ran as well as you could expect.”

Aftermath has trained on well since his Ellerslie exploits and is a previous course and distance winner.

“He’s back on 53kg so he’s meeting some of those better performed horses much better off at the weights, so I think he’s a good chance and Joe Doyle stays with him,” Clotworthy said.

“I’ve been thrilled with him, he’s taken a long time to mould into a racehorse and had all sorts of unusual habits.

“He used to want to over-race and would get into trouble and was weak and not a great eater. He’s always showed quite a bit of ability, and he’s come solid this preparation.”

The stable will also have a strong chance in the opening event on the card, the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1400m), with promising mare Sista Sugar (NZ) (Too Darn Hot).

The four-year-old was a strong resuming second last time out at Ellerslie where she copped an interrupted run.

“She was good fresh-up and has won over 1400m at Pukekohe, it’s great stake money and she’s drawn well (three) again so she should be pretty competitive,” Clotworthy said.

“She’s not very big at all, but she’s got that will to win and is by a great sire in Too Darn Hot.”

Sista Sugar will be ridden by Masa Hashizume, who will also partner Billy Blinx (NZ) (Shocking) from an awkward gate (18) in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (1600m).

“I would have liked a better draw, he’s been going well and is a promising horse. I like him and I think he will continue to develop,” Clotworthy said.

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