2018 Doncaster Mile Results: Happy Clapper Wins on Way To Winx Clash

April 7, 2018

2018 Doncaster Mile Results: Happy Clapper Wins on Way To Winx Clash

It was third time lucky in the Doncaster Mile 2018 results for Patrick Webster’s brilliant miler Happy Clapper who finally won the iconic Royal Randwick classic after back-to-back seconds the past two years ahead of a Winx clash in the Queen Elizabeth.

Happy Clapper

Happy Clapper finally won the Doncaster Mile in 2018 after back-to-back seconds the previous two years. Photo: Steve Hart.

The always honest son of Teofilo had to settle for second to Chris Waller’s champion mare Winx in 2016 and It’s Somewhat in 2017, but this year was Happy Clapper’s year in the Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’.

The first seven-year-old Doncaster Mile winner since Pharoah for his second back in 1995, Happy Clapper handed his trainer a third career Group 1 success.

He also completed the rare Randwick mile double winning the Epsom Handicap and Doncaster in the same season as Winx (2016) and Super Impose (1990 and 1991) had done before him.

“It’s a dream…a great horse isn’t he,” Webster said after the brilliant Doncaster Mile result.

“He just eats it up [the mile]. And it was a nice, calm ride from Blake [Shinn]. He told me he’d win it and he did so it’s all good.”

Coming off a gun lead-up that saw Happy Clapper win the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up before the second to Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m), Happy Clapper was given the perfect ride in the Doncaster Shinn.

“The horse deserves it, he really does,” Shinn said post-win.

“He’s really tested Winx a couple of times and now he’s got his name up there in the history books in one of the great races on the Australian calendar.

“That is amazing, I have just won a Doncaster, I have watched this race for so many years growing up and to finally win it and on the people’s champ ‘The Clapper’.

“To win a Doncaster and put my name in the history books with this horse who deserves it is very special.

“He is so brave this horse, he is honest he is tenacious and tough, well done to Pat Webster and the team this is what it is all about.”

From the inside barrier, Shinn had the horse in the exact right position throughout with Happy Clapper settled fourth the fence just off the speed set by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained front runner Arbetisam.

“He commenced very well,” Shinn said.

“I could have actually led if I’d wanted to.”

Instead the patience of Shinn paid off as he allowed a few others to roll forward and do the work as Happy Clapper saved energy getting an easy time on the inside.

With 500m left to travel Arbetisam and Chris Waller’s perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne were still fighting for the lead and Invincible Gem also pulled out to challenge.

After turning, Shinn brought Happy Clapper ($5) back to the inside and he joined in with the front-runners as Waller’s last start Ajax Stakes winner Comin’ Through ($19) was also trying to lift and finish off.

In the end though nothing was catching Happy Clapper who charged home for a dominant two length win over Comin’ Through, while the pacesetter Arbeitsam ($26) was brave holding for third just a neck further back to round out the Doncaster Mile trifecta.

“Huge run. Would have been nice if I could have had the lead a bit softer but obviously in G1 Doncasters that isn’t going to happen. He was very tough running third. On the bend I didn’t think I was going to run that close. When pressured he kicked into gear,” Arbeitsma’s hoop Michael Dee said after the race.

The plan is to now back Happy Clapper up on successive Saturdays to face Winx in the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Happy Clapper has faced the world’s highest-rated horse seven times previously for a trio of second placings and Webster said the lucrative $755,000 prize for second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was worth racing for.

“He’ll probably run in the Queen Elizabeth,” he said.

“750,000 for running second, so we’ll go there again.”

Before the Doncaster Mile results Happy Clapper was a $17 shot in pre-field Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

He has now come into $9 for next week, while Winx remains the hot $1.18 favourite following her Randwick exhibition gallop on Doncaster Day.

Happy Clapper contested the 2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes finishing third to Lucia Valentina before his fifth to Winx in the race last year.

To back the Doncaster Mile winner Happy Clapper next race for a place behind Winx in the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2018 Doncaster Mile Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 9 – 07/04/2018

Place # Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Br. Weight SP
1 3 HAPPY CLAPPER Patrick Webster Blake Shinn 1 57kg $5
2 10 COMIN’ THROUGH Chris Waller Tim Clark 2L 7 51.5kg $19
3 13 ARBEITSAM Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Michael Dee 2.2L 10 50kg $26
4 16 D’ARGENTO Chris Waller Andrew Adkins 2.5L 15 49kg (cd 51kg) $8.50
5 8 TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 2.6L 14 52kg $15
6 15 COOL CHAP David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Cory Parish 3.1L 6 50kg $41
7 11 LANCIATO (NZ) Mark Newnham Ms Rachel King (a) 3.6L 13 51kg $19
8 1 HUMIDOR (NZ) Darren Weir Mark Zahra 3.7L 4 58kg $13
9 4 ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 4L 3 53.5kg $51
10 9 KEMENTARI James Cummings Brenton Avdulla 4.1L 2 51.5kg $3.20F
11 12 EGG TART Chris Waller Craig Newitt 4.5L 9 50.5kg $31
12 6 CRACK ME UP (NZ) Bjorn Baker Jason Collett 4.7L 11 53kg $21
13 5 PRIZED ICON Kris Lees Ben Melham 6.1L 5 53.5kg $31
14 7 INVINCIBLE GEM Kris Lees Michael Walker 6.8L 12 52kg (cd 52.5kg) $31
15 2 TOSEN STARDOM (JPN) Darren Weir Craig Williams 7.4L 8 57.5kg $26
16 14 MISTER SEA WOLF (IRE) Chris Waller Jay Ford 10.2L 16 50kg $81

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