Cherish Me and Seeking Clarity fight out finish

Two very good fillies fought out the finish in last night’s Pascoes the Jewellers Silk Road Final for fillies and mares at Addington.

At the end of an action packed last 800 metres, the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained Adore Me (Downbytheseaside) had a nose advantage over a courageous Matty Williamson trained and driven Seeking Clarity (Ultimate Sniper).

“It was a great effort, but a lot of compliments to the second horse. It sprinted for 700 metres but we were very fortunate on the night, we won by a nose. We’ll take it and run,” Cran said after the win.

From an outside draw, driver Carter Dalgety let Cherish Me roll out of the gate under her own stream with Cinderella Franco taking up the early running.  Dalgety let his charge roll forward, taking the lead with just over a lap to run.

When Show Stopper came out to make her run heading into the back, Seeking Clarity got onto her back. Once Show Stopper had reached the parked spot, Williamson had no option but to press forward. Rather than be content to sit parked for the last 800 metres, Williamson dished it up to Cherish Me and it was race on, with Cinderella Franco sitting in the trail watching it all unfold.

On straightening for the run home, Cherish Me had a half a length buffer on Seeking Clarity as the two got down to the serious business.

At the end of the battle for top dog, Cherish Me got there by a nose from Seeking Clarity with a length and a quarter back to Cinderella Franco in third.

CHERISH ME REPLAY

The winning time for the 1980 metres was 2-21.2 – a mile rate of 1-54.7 with the last 800 metres cut out in 56.6.

“I knew she’d be softened early and had a very good horse on her back, Cinderella Franco (Ultimate Machete). And Matty’s horse carried a lot of money. So you could never be confident and as we saw, we couldn’t be confident in the last six inches.”

The win was Cherish Me’s fourth in just five starts.

“We’ll let the spring off now. She’s actually come a long way in a quick time. She was an unqualified horse in March, so she’s done a very good job and we’re very fortunate.”

The end of season features promise to be hotly contested, with the likes of Cath, River, Queen Lizzy, Show Stopper, Miki’s Deal, Indulge Me and Ideal Crown in the mix. And last night’s placegetters are all capable of winning one or more of the classics.

The result also highlighted how far the training establishment of Matty Williamson has come this season. He has some quality stock in the barn with trotters Master McGoogan, Axel Rose and New Mexico and pacing filly Seeking Clarity all capable of winning good races.

Last night’s run by Seeking Clarity indicates that when Williamson has the firepower in these types of races, he’s not afraid to use it.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink