Sara commanding in Clifford Park win

COMMANDER Sara will get his shot in town after storming home to take victory on Friday night.

Commander Sara and Les Tilley. Photo: Nev Madsen

RACING: Commander Sara continued his love affair with Clifford Park to record career victory number three on Friday night.

The Michael Nolan-trained gelding overpowered his rivals over the concluding stages of the Hygain Class 2 Plate (1300m), rushing home from near-last to score by 1 ¼ lengths from Ticino Belle ($2.70).

Commander Sara ($2.10 fav) has now won three of his five starts at the track after a dominant debut display and thrilling last-gasp victory on May 31.

“He was impressive in the end,” Nolan said.

“He won a QTIS race a few starts back and Michael Cahill gave him a bit of a wrap.

“I thought he was originally disappointing last start, but in hindsight he didn’t handle the wet track as well as some of the others.

“With 59.5kg on Friday, he had to go back in the field and do it the tough way. I thought there was plenty of merit in the win and he looks like a horse we can move forward with.

“We might step him up to a midweek race in town. I think he’s a nice young horse.”

Nolan left his home track with a double, with Treasure Of Gold ($10) scoring in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (1210m).

Rebecca Goldsbury was able to sneak away on the turn on the colt, who kicked clear to score by 2 lengths from a closing Winter Rain ($3.60).

It marked Treasure Of Gold’s second win in his blossoming career, following a blowout victory at Clifford Park last month.

“He won a couple of starts back at $126. When they do that people can think it was a bit of a fluke,” Nolan said.

“We ran him again after that, and it was a bit short for him, but we had this race over 1200m in mind.

“We think he’s a horse that will get out over a mile. There’s a QTIS mile in three weeks at Ipswich for him. We’re keen to see him go over some distance before we spell him. He’ll have a decent future over a bit of distance.”

The most impressive display of the night was saved for late in the program, with Luvyouantime ($1.85 fav) breaking his maiden in style by 10 ½ lengths for Dale Groves.

# AT Doomben, the Mark Currie-trained Soxagon ($2.45 fav) made it three wins from four starts this preparation with another impressive showing.

Well found by punters, in-form hoop Brad Stewart lobbed the four-year-old in a trailing position on the speed in the Class 6 Plate (1350m).

Soxagon found plenty when given clear air approaching the bend, booting away to score by 1 ¼ lengths from Wren’s Day ($13).

Barefoot ($26) gave a good account of herself for co-trainers Tony and Maddysen Sears in the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes (1630m), finishing fourth, with Red Stina making late ground to finish fifth for trainer Rex Lipp.

# ANDREW Spinks took out riding honours at Gatton on Saturday with an early double.

He kicked off the program in style, piloting Hallsidehankypanky ($7.50) to a comfortable victory in the Maiden Plate (860m).

Spinks then guided Spooling ($17) to his first win in the Maiden Handicap (1400m).

CLIFFORD PARK

Track: Good 4

Rail: +5m entire

1-HYGAIN PLATE (C2) 1300m: 2.10 fav COMMANDER SARA (b/br g 3y Mahisara - Country Command. Trainer: M G Nolan) 59.5 (Leslie Tilley) 1, 2.70 TICINO BELLE 56 (Taylor Marshall) 2, 41.00 SCILAGO 60 carr 58.5 (Madeleine Wishart) 3. Then followed: 18.00 Proud Roc 15.00 Perfect Page 31.00 Vassa Blue 13.00 Euro Hustler 13.00 The Hand last. 1-1/4 len, nk. Time: 1:20.65. (Last 600m 37.22).

2-WESTON KITCHENS (BM58) 1050m: 9.00 ACEPLAY (br g 5y Casino Prince - Absolute Lure. Trainer: Michael Costa) 62.5 (N Tomizawa) 1, 13.00 LOVESON 60.5 carr 58.5 (N Fazackerley) 2, 5.50 THUMBS UP 59 carr 57.5 (Madeleine Wishart) 3. Then followed: 12.00 Last Edition 4.40 Arrow Express 9.50 Uno Eyno 17.00 Bel Beau 4.20 fav King’s Lady 51.00 Poolenzo 10.00 Remlaps Rock last. Sht nk, 3/4 len. Time: 1:04.04 (class record). (Last 600m 36.12).

3-TOOWOOMBA TRUCK SPARES (BM60) 1880m: 2.80 fav TEARS OF LOVE (b g 3y Love Conquers All - Here No Tears. Trainer: M A Kropp) 60 (G Geran) 1, 4.00 RISING KING 56.5 (James Orman) 2, 7.50 OPEN ROAD 58.5 carr 56.5 (N Fazackerley) 3. Then followed: 6.00 Airlie Man 6.00 Haradify 17.00 Miss Margs 31.00 Dominant Witness 41.00 Balius last. 1/2 hd, hd. Time: 1:59.60. (Last 600m 38.41).

4-AUDI CENTRE TOOWOOMBA MDN 1000m: 6.50 URALBA (br f 3y Bel Esprit - Mystic Princess (NZ). Trainer: E Ropiha) 56 carr 54.5 (Madeleine Wishart) 1, 3.60 fav SNAP THE LUCK 56.5 (James Orman) 2, 8.50 REG ‘N’ KATH 58 carr 56 (Alex Patis) 3. Then followed: 12.00 Hisgrace 7.50 Mykiss Froma Rose 3.80 Comet’s Arch 26.00 Tinder Loving Care 11.00 Motion Sensor 26.00 Pearls And Perfume last. Sht hd, 2-1/2 len. Time: 1:01.95. (Last 600m 36.21).

5-FOCUS HR HCP 1210m: 10.00 TREASURE OF GOLD (b c 2y Golden Archer - Ski Treasure. Trainer: M G Nolan) 57.5 (R M Goldsbury) 1, 3.60 WINTER RAIN 55 carr 53.5 (Madeleine Wishart) 2, 3.00 fav STATESVILLE 57.5 (M Hellyer) 3. Then followed: 3.30 Bangers And Mayo 15.00 Terrajohna 10.00 Puckish 61.00 Dustins last. 2 len, sht hd. Time: 1:15.52. (Last 600m 37.21).

6-TAB MDN PLATE 1650m: 1.85 fav LUVYOUANYTIME (b g 3y Love Conquers All - Amazing Grey. Trainer: Dale Groves) 58 (James Orman) 1, 6.50 CREDIBLE 58 (Ms R Palmer) 2, 16.00 HEAD CHEF 58 (K Yoshida) 3. Then followed: 6.00 Howitzer 20.00 Boom Chugga Lugga 5.00 Spurious 51.00 Shellona Beach last. 10-1/2 len, 1/2 len. Time: 1:43.37. (Last 600m 38.75).

7-KENNARDS HIRE MDN HCP 1650m: 5.00 COMPLETE TRUST (b/br g 6y Trusting - Pergram. Trainer: T J Dougall) 55 (M Hellyer) 1, 2.90 CESCA 57.5 (Taylor Marshall) 2, 2.50 fav VITTORINA 58 (James Orman) 3. Then followed: 14.00 Potawatomi 41.00 Golden Jazz 12.00 Enraged 19.00 Mark Of Eight last. Lg nk, 2-1/4 len. Time: 1:43.76. (Last 600m 39.79).

GATTON

Track: Good 4

Rail: True

1-MDN 860m: 7.00 HALLSIDEHANKY-

PANKY (b f 2y Trainer: Jason Edwards) 54.5 (A Spinks) 1, 3.20 fav SPECIAL FLIGHT 56 (L Tilley) 2, 7.50 SILVAPLANA 56.5 carr 54.5 (M Kennedy) 3. 1-1/4 len, 3 len. Time: 0:49.19. (Last 600m 32.84).

2- MDN 1400m: 17.00 SPOOLING (br g 3y Trainer: Rob Davidson) 56.5 (A Spinks) 1, 18.00 SIZZLING DIAMOND 55 (W D O’Connell) 2, 9.00 FROM NOW 55 (Adam Sewell) 3. Len, len. Time: 1:25.53. (Last 600m 35.68).

3-C1 1600m: 8.50 INCORRUPTIBILITY (b g 4y Trainer: Kerry Baumann) 57.5 (N Tomizawa) 1, 26.00 SENTIMENTAL MISS 55 (Ms K Gates) 2, 2.35 fav DAWSON DELIGHT 56.5 carr 55 (S Tomlinson) 3. 3-1/2 len, 1/2 len. Time: 1:36.11.

4-BM58 1100m: 3.40 fav BELLE’S PLUCK (ch g 5y Trainer: L J Gough) 60.5 (M Murphy) 1, 5.50 DIGGITY 60 (Ms L Mc Coy) 2, 31.00 MAGIC MYSTERY 56.5 (Ms S Lacy) 3. 3/4 len, 1-1/2 len. Time: 1:03.42. (Last 600m 34.06).

5-BM58 1100m: 6.00 BOSS’S BOY (b g 5y Trainer: Ms J Crompton) 60 (E Ljung) 1, 2.90 fav THE HOOLIGAN 61 (Ms B Andrew) 2, 19.00 HERECUM DA DRUMS 57.5 (W D O’Connell) 3. 1-3/4 len, 1/2 len. Time: 1:03.65. (Last 600m 34.14).

6-C1 1400m: 17.00 GUNNOBE (br m 4y Trainer: L Hatch) 58 (J Stanley) 1, 3.20 fav CUBAN MINT 57.5 (S Galloway) 2, 31.00 SECRET CONQUEST 58 (A Chau) 3. ]2 len, 1-3/4 len. Time: 1:23.25. (Last 600m 35.15).

7- (55) 1400m: 21.00 AMERICAN SUMMER (br m 5y Trainer: B J Hudson) 56 carr 54 (M Savva) 1, 3.90 fav WHOSTOPPEDTHERAIN 57.5 (M Murphy) 2, 12.00 LOVE RUSH 57 (G Geran) 3. Len, 1/2 nk. Time: 1:24.19. (Last 600m 36.22).

8-BM58 1100m: 1.80 fav BETTER BE BETTER (b f 3y Trainer: Ms C Allardyce) 60.5 carr 59 (S Tomlinson) 1, 9.00 ARQUERA 59 (L Tilley) 2, 26.00 THE BUMBLEBEE 60 (A Sewell) 3. 2 len, 1/2 hd. Time: 1:04.29. (Last 600m 34.51).

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