Happy Clapper Takes On Winx In Queen Elizabeth Field

April 3, 2017

Happy Clapper Takes On Winx In Queen Elizabeth Field

Trainer Patrick Webster doesn’t believe Winx is a big enough reason not to run his Doncaster Mile runner-up Happy Clapper in this weekend’s 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field.

Happy Clapper

Doncaster Mile runner-up Happy Clapper is set to back-up and take on Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2017. Photo: Steve Hart.

That’s not to say the Randwick horseman actually rates his in-form galloper any kind of chance to defeat Chris Waller’s superstar mare as Winx shoots for her seventeenth straight win in the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.

Webster knows he and the rest of the field in the feature event on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick will be running for second at best to Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes results.

He would be more than happy however to snare that $760,000 second prize with Happy Clapper on the quick back-up after the six-year-old son of Teofilo finished a half-length runner-up behind It’s Somewhat in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last weekend.

“Definitely, all being well, he will line up in the 2000-metre race,” Webster told AAP on Sunday.

“He ran third in it last year. He’s in great form and there’s no reason not to run.”

The Doncaster second last Saturday followed a string of good runs this time in by Happy Clapper who has had three previous 2000m runs for just the one third place finish ahead of his Winx clash on Saturday.

That 2000m placing came behind Lucia Valentina (1st) and The United States (2nd) in last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes trifecta, as mentioned by Webster.

Happy Clapper brings the exact form line into the race again this autumn as the galloper also finished second in last year’s Doncaster Mile behind Winx.

Winx hasn’t lost a race since the Australian Oaks as a three-year-old and Happy Clapper last clashed with the world’s best turf horse running sixth as an $81 roughie at Moonee Valley in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) last October.

No surprises Winx is at $1.15 already odds-on in Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au before the official field is even released on Tuesday morning.

Happy Clapper pays $26 in those futures Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets, with the other key chances being Hartnell ($13) and last year’s second placegetter The United States ($15).

Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2017 final acceptances close at 9:00am (AEDT) on Tuesday morning so now is the time to check out the all-in odds on Winx and her rivals at Ladbrokes.com.au.

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 SA Derby Winner Coco Sun ...

Guineas Winner Kintyre Unlikel...

Guineas Winner Kintyre Unlikely for 2024 Queensland Derby

Connections of the high-flying Kintyre are unlikely to press onto the...

Victory Stakes Winner Antino R...

Victory Stakes Winner Antino Rockets into Stradbroke 2024 Favouritism

Antino finally lived up to the hype of trainer Tony Gollan who had been...

2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Re...

2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Results: Climbing Star Stuns in Local Upset

It was a fantastic local result for trainer Phillip Stokes and young hoop...

Vibrant Sun Shines in 2024 Aus...

Vibrant Sun Shines in 2024 Australasian Oaks Results

Vibrant Sun just held on in a brave effort showing true grit to salute in the...

Race Results

2024 SA Derby Winner Coco Sun Aims at Queensland Oaks

Guineas Winner Kintyre Unlikely for 2024 Queensland Derby

Victory Stakes Winner Antino Rockets into Stradbroke 2024 Favouritism

2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Results: Climbing Star Stuns in Local Upset

Vibrant Sun Shines in 2024 Australasian Oaks Results

Race Previews

2024 South Australian Derby Field & Betting Update: Coco Sun Set to Shine

Fawkner Park Heads Wagga Wagga Gold Cup 2024 Field & Odds

2024 Queensland Guineas Field & Betting Update on Derby Lead-Up

Uncommon James Heads 2024 Victory Stakes Field & Betting

Warrnambool Cup 2024 Field & Betting Update: Little Mix Favourite

Fields & Form

Guineas Winner Kintyre Unlikely for 2024 Queensland Derby

Victory Stakes Winner Antino Rockets into Stradbroke 2024 Favouritism

2024 South Australian Derby Field & Betting Update: Coco Sun Set to Shine

Fawkner Park Heads Wagga Wagga Gold Cup 2024 Field & Odds

2024 Queensland Guineas Field & Betting Update on Derby Lead-Up