1 day Ago By Chris Roots
They know what a good horse looks like at Tulloch Lodge, and how it works and feels, which is understandable given that more than a half-century of benchmarks to step out of the Bowral Street boxes in Kensington. While Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott carry on the tradition as trainers, there has always been a role for a jockey at Tulloch Lodge, and Tim Clark plays that understated role in the stable of stars in 2024. Tim Clark drives Eliyass away from rivals in the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Randwick in June.
Credit: Getty Images There is no No.1 rider at Tulloch Lodge these days, as there has been in the past, but Clark has his name at the top of the list for the good ones because of his knowledge and experience. He will jump on Premier Cup winnre Eliyass in the Kingston Town Stakes, Tramway Stakes winner Royal Patronage in the 7 Stakes and Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot in The Shorts for Sydney’s most renowned yard at Randwick on Saturday.
“It is great with Tim because he has been part of the team for so long,” Bott said. “We think the same about horses. He knows the system and how to ride them, which is important.
“We have a very similar understanding and vision of horses. We are all on the same page, without having much discussions about it. “Often little has to be said between us to come up with the same feeling of where we are going, and that is the strength of the relationship.
” Clark knows what is expected at Tulloch Lodge, and that unerring drive for success brings opportunities like those on imports Eliyass and Royal Patronage, which are both unbeaten in Australia. “It’s a great privilege to be able to ride the quality horses that I get to ride, and I don’t take that lightly,” Clark said. “A couple of these horses on Saturday are very exciting, and I look forward to what the future holds for both of them.
” Clark and Bott believe Eliyass is their best chance heading to Randwick. “Eliyass is better placed on the weekend of those two and he is on his way to Metropolitan. He keeps improving,” Bott said.
“Royal Patronage made a big impression at his first start out here, but he really has to step up to weight for age, and it’s a good test for him.” Clark added that from what he had seen of Eliyass since his Premier Cup win to start the spring, he was ready to go to another level, and he too tempered the expectation on Royal Patronage. “It seems like a perfect program for Eliyass – four weeks between runs – and he’s thriving.
He couldn’t be going any better,” Clark said. “The other horse [Royal Patronage], I don’t know. He’s got a bit of weight in an Epsom [56 kilograms], but if he comes out and runs really well at weight for age on Saturday, you might think that weight is a bit of a luxury.
” Clark was confident going into the Tramway with Royal Patronage two weeks ago. The exciting thing about the miler, which has raced in Europe and America, is that he remains untapped as a six-year-old. Royal Patronage makes a winning debut in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick earlier this month.
Credit: Getty Images “He had the race in control a fair way out [in the Tramway],” Clark said. “He was forward in condition and ready to go. Naturally, he’s going to improve a little bit, but it’s a step up again for him this weekend.
“We’re going to find out a lot more about him on Saturday, whether he is that weight-for-age kind of horse, or whether he is more of a handicapper.” Clark is more excited about former French stayer Eliyass, which has won eight of his 10 starts and is unbeaten in two runs in Australia. He is sneaking up the benchmark but still gets in with only 56kg in the Kingston Town and has barrier one.
“He is very exciting. He couldn’t have been more impressive,” Clark said. “He’s got a great record, that good will to win, and he is improving all the time “This will be a good lead-up into hopefully a Metrop.
He has drawn a nice barrier and I’m looking forward to getting back on him.” Lady Of Camelot can enhance her Everest claims in The Shorts after running third in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. “She has come back from Melbourne well, but she doesn’t get many favours under the conditions on Saturday as the Golden Slipper winner,” he said.
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