2017 Kingsford-Smith Cup Winner Clearly Innocent into Stradbroke

May 27, 2017

2017 Kingsford-Smith Cup Winner Clearly Innocent into Stradbroke

It is onto the Stradbroke Handicap in a fortnight for the now Kris Lees-trained improver Clearly Innocent who was a big drifter in Kingsford-Smith Cup 2017 betting before his impressive win in the Eagle Farm Group 1 on Saturday.

Clearly Innocent

Clearly Innocent (pictured at Randwick) is onto the 2017 Stradbroke Handicap after an impressive late win in the Kingsford-Smith Cup at weight-for-age. Photo: Steve Hart.

Earlier in the week the five-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt was as short as $6.50 to handle a notable class rise with a win in the $700,000 Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).

He eased out to double-figures before jump time in the weight-for-age feature but defied his price with brilliant three length win over the front-runner Jungle Edge who was the best backed horse in the race.

Formerly prepared by Greg Bennett, Clearly Innocent recently transferred to Lees’ Newcastle base where he has gone from strength-to-strength.

“He was very well looked after in the early stages of his career and I’m the one reaping the benefits of that now,” Lees said post-win on Saturday.

“He’s doing a great job so far.

“Going from a Listed race to weight-for-age was a concern.

“[But] he relished it [the conditions at Eagle Farm].”

Last time out the horse enjoyed a win by a similar margin at Scone taking out the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) with Hugh Bowman aboard.

Bowman retained the ride in Saturday’s weight-for-age feature and was thrilled to get the job done again as Clearly Innocent made it three-from-three over the distance.

“Unbelievable,” Bowman declared.

“He gave me such a good feel at Scone.

“There was query in the class rise. I knew he had it in him, but whether that was today or in the future.

“He’s a really impressive horse.”

Settled back off the pace in his first elite level assignment, the eventual Kingsford-Smith Cup winner made up all the ground late charging home on the straight to run down the in-form mudlark Jungle Edge.

“I wanted to be closer,” Bowman admitted.

“But I didn’t want to push him out of his comfort zone to do so.

“His class shone through.”

After being smashed by the punters, Mick Bell’s BRC Sprint winner from last weekend Jungle Edge hit the front from out wide early going forward to lead the Kingsford-Smith Cup field around as expected.

The dual Group 1 placegetter this campaign in Sydney looked the winner, leading by a four length margin down the straight with the winning post approaching.

Bowman however had Clearly Innocent poised and ready to strike, quickly closing the gap with a barnstorming late run to move clear of Jungle Edge and take out the feature by three lengths.

After a tough run mid-field out wide, the Chris Waller-trained Counterattack came off his Doomben 10,000 second to round out the Kingsford-Smith Cup trifecta back in third.

The $1.5 million Group Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) back at the track on June 10 now looks to be Clearly Innocent’s race to win with the horse to enjoy a drop down in weight.

“He’s looking pretty good [for the Stradbroke] on the back of that performance,” Bowman said.

Clearly Innocent will be penalised for his Kingsford-Smith Cup victory, but should still get into the Stradbroke Handicap field on a very winnable weight.

“I think he’ll acquit himself well here in a fortnight,” Lees added.

“I hope he just gets enough [weight] for Hughie to ride.

“We’ll just tick him over now. He’s a lighter framed horse. We don’t need to do much with him now.”

Head to our No. 1 recommended bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au to back this year’s Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Clearly Innocent at the right price in the upcoming Stradbroke Handicap 2017.

2017 Kingsford-Smith Cup Results & Finishing Order

Eagle Farm Race 7 – 27/05/2017

Place # Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Br. Wgt. SP
1 6 CLEARLY INNOCENT Kris Lees Hugh Bowman 8 59kg $11
2 8 JUNGLE EDGE Mick Bell Kevin Forrester 3L 13 59kg $5.50EF
3 5 COUNTERATTACK Chris Waller Opie Bosson 6.8L 6 59kg $6
4 14 IMPENDING Darren Beadman James Doyle 8.1L 1 57kg $14
5 1 BLACK HEART BART Darren Weir Brad Rawiller 9.1L 3 59kg $5.50EF
6 11 DERRYN David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Mark Zahra 11.6L 4 57kg $6
7 12 TYCOON TARA Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 12L 10 57kg $19
8 2 UNDER THE LOUVRE Robert Smerdon Dwayne Dunn 12.2L 7 59kg $31
9 10 HOPFGARTEN Robert Heathcote Ronnie Stewart 12.7L 9 59kg $26
10 9 IN HIS STRIDE Rex Lipp Damian Browne 12.8L 2 59kg $151
11 7 START WONDERING (NZ) Evan & Jennifer J Rayner Johnathan Parkes 14.3L 11 59kg $26
12 3 JAPONISME Chris Waller Blake Shinn 23.3L 5 59kg $31
13 4 MUSIC MAGNATE (NZ) Bjorn Baker Jeff Lloyd 27.1L 12 59kg $17
13 EGYPTIAN SYMBOL Bjorn Baker Damian Lane 0

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up