Fellini (outer), seen here winning the Kurow Cup at Omakau last Tuesday, is chasing a hat-trick in the Kumara Nuggets today. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Shaun Clotworthy had to watch from afar as stable runner Go Joeli made a stylish winning debut at Tauranga on Saturday.
The Byerley Park trainer was stuck in postponed Kumara as Go Joeli got the money, in part, for lifetime friend Bart Haub.
Bart is the son of outstanding former racecaller Keith Haub.
Just as Keith Haub and Shaun Clotworthy's father Kim grew up together, so did their sons.
Go Joeli is the first horse raced by Haub and the perfect result was achieved.
Haub got some of the generous $20.30 win odds, backing only for a win. "Well, they're supposed to win, aren't they?"
Go Joeli is a compact, solid 3-year-old by Brilliance and was ridden positively by Matt Cameron, who in riding his 79th winner on Saturday surpassed his previous seasonal record with just five months of the season used up.
Haub wasn't at Tauranga on Saturday either, but his father was and made sure Matt Cameron received the right riding instructions.
In his usual no-nonsense manner, Haub snr said: "Listen, this is no holiday ride, the money's on."
"The tune-up didn't do any harm," Cameron said as he weighed back in.
Go Joeli's dam Marguax is a half- sister by War Hawk to Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Doriemus.
Shaun Clotworthy says he is too busy to stay down for today's Kumara races and the Herald caught up with him late yesterday waiting for a flight home.
He said the chances of his four horses at Kumara, Miss Biennale, Lambo Man, Timo'shanter and Asworthy would improve if further rain fell.
"The rain that washed out Saturday's races didn't really eventuate to much at all.
"They probably could have raced on Saturday.
"Unless it rains the track will be quite hard. The weather was fine when we left there this morning."
David Walsh reckons Kiwi Hussler has finally worked out what the racing game is about. It took a while.
The 6-year-old will be having his 54th career start when he goes around in today's $30,000 Vernon & Vazey Kumara Gold Nuggets.
And Walsh believes it has taken most of those starts for Kiwi Hussler to become a total professional.
"He used to race well only when there was rain around.
"Any other time and he'd drop back in his races and he wasn't easy to motivate.
"At the moment he's gone six or seven good races in a row. He's really turned the corner."
Which puts Kiwi Hussler right in the mix for the West Coast's most famous race. He's drawn nicely and Walsh should be able to possie him up beautifully behind the speed.
The 54.5kg is a nice weight for him.
Last year's winner Titch is in very well with 59kg and with a nice barrier Jillian Morris should be able to provide him with a run similar to that which won him the $1 million Auckland Cup last March.
Titch is the $5 TAB fixed odds favourite ahead of Kiwi Hussler and Waitui Music on $5.50.
Riccarton Stablemates Fellini and Borninthestates are rated together on $7.50.
Fellini is in the best form of Michael Pitman's trio of Nuggets runners, having won his past two including the Kurow Cup last time to the races.
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