Glory After Bruising

By Harley Walden

GLORY after bruising drama was the story behind Clearly Innocent’s win in last Saturday’s $400,000 Country Championships final.

Clearly Innocent winning the Country Championships Final at Randwick, ridden by Tommy Berry.

The Greg Bennett trained galloper was under an injury cloud on race eve and drifted alarmingly in betting on track.

Bennett admitted the final 24 hours leading up to the race were the most challenging in his training career with both his runners in the Championship Final, Clearly Innocent and All Summer Long suffering stone bruises late in the week.

All Summer Long did not respond to treatment and was scratched, but Clearly Innocent with a major effort, according to Bennett by his team of stable hands and farrier James Balfe was able to take his place.

Amidst the celebrating by owners, Cressfield Stud, Bennett was trying to remain calm.

Trainer Wayne Bennett with jockey Tommy Berry. Back: Bruce Neill, owner and breeder of Clearly Innocent and owner of Cressfield and Wayne Bedggood manager of Cressfield.

Cressfield Stud’s Brian Neill saluted a marvellous run.

Bennett offered jockey Tommy Berry a 12 out of 10 for his ride for snagging the gelding back to the inside of the field as they loved to the centre of the track.

Clearly Innocent did the rest sweeping past his opposition to win by 2 1/2 lengths from the Mack Griffith trained Pera Pera with Cliff Bashford’s Ever So Natural a half head away third.

Sky Thoroughbred Central expert Ron Dufficy reports that Clearly Innocent has a great future.

“He’s not just a Country Championship winner, he’s a top performer and could well be a contender for next year’s Doncaster Handicap,” Ron Dufficy said.

Greg Bennett at the moment is not sure of where he ends up with Clearly Innocent but says he has earnt himself a week or ten days in the paddock ad bring back, first up, for the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone in May.