Trots Centre: Connor hopes to continue gait year with latest test

The last few months have been filled with many firsts for up-and-coming star Connor Clarke and this Saturday will provide yet another.

While the young reinsman has had over 30 drives and five winners, the 17-year-old is yet to take on the task of partnering a squaregaiter under race conditions.

That will change when he gets in the sulky behind Brian Kiesey-trained Gentleman Sir in the Breckon Farms Trot (2240m, NR 61 to 74) at Tabcorp Park Melton.

“I’d like to drive a few more trotters and eventually drive a trotting winner – that’s probably my closest goal,” Clarke said.

“I’ve driven a few at the trials for Glenn Sharp, but not in a race yet. This is my first race drive on a trotter.

“The pacers are a bit more naturally held to their gait so you can swing them a bit more and rush them a bit more and that sort of thing.

“Where trotters you have got to be real patient, hold them through their gait and always have a hold of their mouth to keep them more fluent in their gait. Just keeping them trotting is the main thing.”

Gentleman Sir looks outclassed in the field of six, but it will be a good learning experience for Clarke, who has a great book of drives across the double-header of Melton meetings.

The Ross Creek-based youngster feels he is building confidence with more and more exposure to races.

“I’m getting more comfortable and confident as I go through the drives,” he said. “I’m learning each race and taking it as it comes really.”

Clarke scored three winners across last weekend’s meetings at Tabcorp Park and looks well placed to at least equal that feat again on Saturday.

On top of the steer on Gentleman Sir, he has locked in a couple of drives from the powerful Emma Stewart stable, including Firerockfireroll in the early card and Like A Wildfire in the evening program. He will join forces with father Stephen’s horses Monsieur Delacour and Miss Mcgonagall, as well as Ted Caruana’s Lets Go Better and Allan McDonough’s Pradason.

And his best of the seven drives? Probably Firerockfireroll.

“It’s a hard pick, there’s a lot of nice chances,” Clarke said. “It’s a good problem to have, but I reckon Firerockfireroll is my best chance in the last of the day.

“They’ve got a really high opinion back in the camp with him. He’s still a little bit green, but he should roll to the top as well and be able to dictate and be too quick for them at the end.”
The Saturday morning meeting runs from 8.30am to 10.45am, with the evening timeslot between 4.52pm and 8.30pm.

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Hosts Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden will guide listeners through the wins, near-misses and opportunities with a Talking Trots on SEN Track double, running from 9-11am and 5.30-9.30pm.

Aired on SEN 1116AM and 1377AM in Melbourne, 657AM in Perth and 1575AM in Wollongong, you can also click here to listen live online and for links to download the SEN app.