Happy Clapper (foaled 25 October 2010) is a retired multiple Group 1 winning Australian bred thoroughbred racehorse.
| Happy Clapper | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Teofilo |
| Grandsire | Galileo |
| Dam | Busking |
| Damsire | Encosta De Lago |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 25 October 2010 |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Michael Thomas |
| Owner | Michael Thomas |
| Trainer | Patrick Webster |
| Record | 48: 12–12–6 |
| Earnings | A$ 7,307,800[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Villiers Stakes (2015) Newcastle Newmarket (2017) Tramway Stakes (2017) Epsom Handicap (2017) Canterbury Stakes (2018) Doncaster Handicap (2018) Craven Plate (2019) | |
He is also remembered for running second on 5 occasions behind champion race mare Winx.[2]
Racing career
editHappy Clapper raced as a 2 year old and 3 year old without success. The horse won his first race as a 4 year old at Sydney’s Canterbury Park Racecourse when ridden by jockey Blake Shinn.
As a 5 year old he won his first stakes race when successful in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes. After the race trainer, Pat Webster stated “I've had some good horses, but I’d have to say this is the best horse I’ve had”.[3]
Happy Clapper finally tasted success as a 7 year old in a Group 1 race when successful in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick Racecourse. Trainer Pat Webster said after the race, “This is my greatest moment in racing”.[4]
Later that season he was successful in another two Group 1 races, the Doncaster Handicap and the Canterbury Stakes.
After finishing seventh in the 2020 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Happy Clapper was retired from racing and sent to ex-jockey Mal Fitzgerald who operates a facility for Racing NSW, retraining retired racehorses at Oxley Island near Taree.[5]
References
edit
- ^ "Happy Clapper Horse Profile". racingaustralia.horse. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Winx Stakes has Happy Clappers name all over it". theage.com.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Happy Clapper wins the Group 2 Villiers". racingandsports.com. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Richly deserved Epsom win for Happy Clapper". breednet.com.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Happy Clapper retired after stellar career". 7news.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2020.