12 February 2021 | HRNSW MEDIA | MICHAEL DUMESNY
HUNTER Valley trainer Clayton Harmey has been enjoying a successful ride over the past 18 months.
Harmey ended the extended period from July, 2019, to December, 2020, with an impressive 158 winners and 216 placegetters to finish third on the New South Wales Trainers’ Premiership behind Craig Cross and KerryAnn Morris, with his horses earning almost $1million in stakes.
“It was a tough grind for my stable, but the results showed that hard work pays off,” said Harmey.
While Harmey reflects on his success with pride, he is now happy to take a new approach to racing by bolstering his stable with a big number of youngsters.
“I have turned my focus to the young horses that I have acquired and currently have 15 two-year-olds in work,” he said.
Last Monday at Newcastle, Harmey had four of the six runners in the two-year-olds’ event and he managed to quinella the race.
“I have a good opinion of all four horses that raced on Monday,” he said.
“They are more mature than the others at this stage of their preparation.
“Comet Crusader and Skyfall Benchmark are the two colts that ran first and second and are so well bred.
“I think both look set to have bright futures.”
Harmey is setting Siangdi, the filly that ran fourth on Monday for the prestigious Pink Bonnet at Tabcorp Park Menangle, while he also has a team of youngsters shaping up for the Bathurst Gold Crown.
“A number of my clients have either bred or purchased young horses in the hope that we can grab some of the good prizemoney on offer.”
This weekend Harmey is heading to Menangle with stable star Chevrons Reward, who will take on a strong field of mares in the Sibelia Stakes in the hope that she can qualify for the Ladyship Mile.
This evening at Newcastle, Harmey has just four runners engaged, and rates Fantasize (Race 1) as his main chance of winning.
“She is having her third run back from a break,” he said.
“Last start she never got out at any stage and prior to that I was happy with her effort to finish fourth.”
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