Breakthrough win for Big Al

For many reasons last night’s win by Big Al on a wet and punishing Addington night was special.

Trained by the father-daughter combo of Steve Clarke and Hayley Stewart, the What The Hill five-year-old, driven by Clarke, capped off a good run of recent form to secure his breakthrough harness racing win at start number 12 in the Mid Winter Xmas on Sale Now Trot.

First and foremost it marked Stewart’s first ever training success, at start number 117. She’d previously had two placings with Nadira Franco. And three with Big Al

“It was very exciting, we were quietly confident though you never know,” says Stewart.

Big Al trotted off the mark like a pro and was in front early before handing up to Stuart’s Buller Boy and Blair Orange.

“After he led up and then trailed my husband Joe said halfway through the race ‘if he doesn’t win today there’s something wrong’.”

Steve Clarke then popped out before the passing lane to grab the leader on the home turn. He went on to win by a length.

It was his eighth win in the sulky, and his 12th as a trainer. He trained on his own account between 1984 and 2019, with his daughter joining the partnership from the 2020 season.

“We just train a small team and we are hobby trainers who work our horses at 6am and go to our day jobs so it’s never easy against the ‘professionals’, says Stewart, “and that’s one of the good things about these midweek meetings at Addington, they give everyone a chance.”

Making it even better is the fact that the horse is named after Steve’s brother Alan, who died around five years ago.

“Alan was known as Clarkee and he was at Addington every Friday night working at the start so Addington was a special place for him so it was cool to win a race there,” says Stewart.

“And his wife and three daughters are all in Big Al’s ownership with us and they love racing as much as we do.”

And the family connection doesn’t end there, with Big Al’s win coming just hours after they heard about the death of Steve and Alan’s godmother Janice Alford. His modest whip flourish at the finishing line was a tribute to both of them.

BIG AL REPLAY

Ordinarily Stewart would have been in the sulky too, though she is currently on light duties as she awaits the arrival of her first child due in October.  Her first ever driving win is now firmly on the to-do list.

“It would have been nice training and driving and ticking both of them off at the same time but that will have to wait till next year,” she laughs.

In the meantime Big Al will be back next Wednesday before contesting the Anne Thompson Graduation Final on May 18 at Rangiora after he gained automatic entry with his third in the heat at Rangiora last week.

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk