March waits 50 years for horse like Clintal Do

By Duane Ranger

Warwick horseman, Richard March, has waited half a century for a horse like Clintal Do to come along.

“He certainly makes the job worth getting up for. He doesn’t take much work. I just keep him fit and then race him. I’ve been training horses since I was 17 and I’m now 70. He’s by far the best horse I have had anything to do with,” March said.

The former ‘3YO Horse-of-the-Year’ was in blistering form at Albion Park on Saturday night. He picked them up and put them away at the 400m mark in the $13,000 Changeover At Burwood Stud Pace.

Driver, Nathan Dawson, had the now 5-year-old Dawn Ofa New day gelding in the one-one soon after the start and they then were then three back on outside before Dawson launched him.

"He's got a very good turn of foot - easily the fastest pacer that I've ever trained. Nathan drove him perfectly. He set him alight at just the right time," March said.

Clintal Do started from the outside of the second row (9) and paced the 2138m mobile in 2:33.1 with a 1:55.3 mile rate. His sectionals were 31.4, 29 even, 28 even, and 37.2.

He won under a hold by 7.3m. The Space Invader (Narissa McMullen) was second, with 15.3m back to Sir Julian and John Cremin, in third.

It was the talented bay's 23^rd win in 56 starts. He’s also placed 15 times for just on $167,000 in purses.

Clintal Do is also a Group Two winner having nailed the $50,000 QBRED Triad for 3yo colts and geldings in May 2017. Twelve months later he then nailed the $25,000 Listed equivalent for the 4yo entires and geldings.

“I want to line him up next in the Armidale Cup in a couple of weeks. We won that race last year and I’d like to do it again. After that he will have a brief spell before being set for the Winter Carnival at Albion Park,” March said.

“As for this week, I’m still weighing up whether to start him or not. He’s come through Saturday’s race real well."

He said swimming was one way of keeping Clintal Do’s fitness up.

“He doesn’t take much work. He’s just got so much natural ability. His speed around corners is one of his greatest assets. He seems to make up a lot of ground on the turns,” March said.

Clintal Do is owned and bred by Trevor and Louise O’Reilly of Palmwoods (Sunshine Coast). He is the third of four foals out of the 2003 Perfect Art - Terry Lyn three-win mare, Shesgotemgood.

“Shesgotemgood’s second foal named Hereiam (by Jeremes Jet – 1:56.1) earned over $50,000 and has a Racing Hill colt who was born last September. She didn’t meet our meet her reserve of $11,000k at the Brisbane APG Sale,” O’Reilly said.

March said he enjoyed training for the O’Reillys.

“They are good owners and leave me to make the decisions. We do communicate quite a bit. They know I’d like to start this horse at Menangle one day. I’m sure the big track down there would suit him,” said March.

He said Clintal Do was now a much stronger and quicker horse than when he won his Queensland age group title.

“He’s got better and better with age. We had a bit of a scare with him last season though. We had to cut half of his hoof away after it became infected," he said.

“It’s now grown back and he’s recovered well and he is now back to where I want him. I thought he would be hard to beat after winning untouched at Inverell the week before. He’s my pride and joy."