Oliver and Currie dominate early at Clifford Park

A race-to-race double to jockey Josh Oliver and trainer Mark Currie kicked off proceedings at Clifford Park last night.

Vibrato and Josh Oliver win race one at Clifford Park, Saturday, November 9, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

RACING: It was the Josh Oliver and Mark Currie show to begin the card at Clifford Park on Saturday night, with the pair combining for the opening two winners.

It began in the Western Truck Group Benchmark 60 Handicap (1200m), with Oliver aboard the heavily-backed Vibrato ($2.30 fav).

Jumping worse than midfield, the five-year-old was able to progressively make ground during the middle stages of the race.

Oliver sent him forward on a wide move 500m from home, in what proved to be the decisive factor, as the Mark Currie-trained gelding came away for a convincing win by two and three quarter lengths from Esska ($21), with Frascati Miss ($14) a further half length back in third.

“I was unsure where we would get to in the run, but we were able to get a run through,” Oliver said.

“First-up with the big weight (59.5kg), I thought he was quite impressive in the end.

“He relaxed really well, and with the weight I had to grind away at him for a bit, but he was able to keep progressing forward and it was a good pick up.

“I think he can take that next step up. He’ll get in well with the weights, and will improve a lot from this run.”

It was that same combination that proved a handful in the next event on the card, the Supagas Maiden Handicap (1000m).

After beginning well, Honey Baby ($3.10) was able to secure an easy lead with little outside pressure.

The filly continued to coast in front, until being given a bit more room to move by Oliver, before dropping her rivals at the turn.

She went on with it in the straight, sailing away to score by three and a quarter lengths from Golden Symphony ($2.70 fav), breaking her maiden at her seventh start.

Oliver rode her at her last start at the Gold Coast where she finished as an unplaced favourite, and said she had come on to start the new preparation.

“I thought we would sit in the box seat, but with the blinkers on and jumping well the lead was there,” he said.

“I knew that once she travelled like she did she was going to be hard to run down.

“She’s shown a bit on the track previously, and I think she’s in for a good campaign.

“The way she ran out the 1000 and the way she won, I don’t think she’ll have a problem stepping out to 1200m.”

The on-pacers kept the winning habit up in the HRX Transport Maiden Handicap (1300m), as Rock Me Hussey ($3.50) romped away at his 12th start.

Jumping well and leading from barrier four, the John Thomas five-year-old extended his lead upon turning, before booting home to score by six and a quarter lengths.

In the second heat of the Cannonball Series (870m), Mountain Courage ($3.50) and Hide The Moon ($31) cut away at each other over the sprint trip.

Easing favourite Bella Ochi ($3.30) sat behind the duo and hit the lead early in the home straight, before the well-backed Cambooya Rock ($3.60) stormed over the top of her to score by a length.

New Alliance ($5.50) was a further half length back in third, as they ran home in a blistering last 600m of 33.94.

Saturday-class gelding Rock Beat ($1.28) went around as the shortest priced favourite of the evening in the Neil Mandsell Transport Class 4 Plate (1000m) and didn’t disappoint, scoring by three and three quarter lengths.

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