In-form stayer Havaduel is proof Joe Cleary's bold move to open up a set of Moruya stables late last year was the right decision.
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On the verge of being shipped out of Cleary's yard just a few months ago, Havaduel was sent down to Shaun Coady who looks after the Queanbeyan trainer's coastal satellite stable and the five-year-old has emerged a new horse.
Back-to-back wins at Moruya have him primed for a tilt at Friday's Benchmark 65 Handicap (2000m) at Thoroughbred Park, and only a brave man would tip against the son of Savabeel who will be piloted by in-form jockey Blaike McDougall for a third-straight race.
And it's all thanks to soothing waters of the Moruya River.
"He was at the crossroads whether I was going to persevere with him, I decided to leave him down the coast with Shaun and he's just gone bang, bang," Cleary said.
"I just think the beach, going to the river, he's really taken to that environment. He only arrived home yesterday back to Queanbeyan.
"He's really clicked with Blaike McDougall because Blaike puts it over him. He drops the bit and he gets on the bit and he drops the bit where Blaike keeps at him and he keeps finding the line for him.
"He'll just head straight back to the coast after the races and get back to the environment he loves."
Cleary's Moruya expansion follows in the footsteps of leading Canberra trainer Matthew Dale, who enjoyed similar success when setting up a coastal base.
After successfully applying for a satellite stable last year, Cleary now has six horses in work down the coast under the watchful eye of Coady.
"Shaun Coady is doing a super job for me. I've got a couple of girls riding trackwork down there and it's working," Cleary said.
"I go down once every couple of weeks to keep an eye on things.
"Queanbeyan is home for me, it's my main base but it's just another good little outlet. When Matty first took them down there I thought this is working so I put my toe in the water with a couple of horses I thought it could work with.
"It just helps with the volume of horses we've got at the moment, we're full down there and we're full at Queanbeyan."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
Cleary will also saddle up Concrete at Canberra in the Benchmark 70 Federal Handicap (1200m), fresh off a resuming second in a similar race two weeks ago.
"He was just on dead legs the last 50 yards, I knew he'd be calling for a cab at some stage," Cleary said of the five-year-old's first-up effort.
"I said to [jockey] Matthew [Cahill] just be conscious he's not quite wound up because I didn't give him a barrier trial or a jumpout.
"I just sent him in there mad fresh and happy and he went enormous. He's just come on so well from the run. He's been tap dancing around the stables telling me he wants to go back to the races.
"If he can just get some easy sectionals I reckon he'll put them away."
Meanwhile, Cleary's mare Girls Are Ready remains available for one of the remaining two Kosciuszko slot holders.
Canberra duo Handle The Truth and Man Of Peace, and Jarrod Croker's Intuition have already been snapped up.
SCORSE'S SAUCE
Former leading jockey John Scorse is back again and is providing all the tips you need for Canberra's race meet on Friday.
Best bet: Race 1, No.2 Gaelic: Pay to forgive her first up in higher grade when he pulled up lame, form last prep first class and perfectly placed in this grade, looks a cut above these.
Best roughie: Race 7, No.7 Ons Vier: Close up when resuming over 1000, has great second up form but will need some luck from outside gate, has a big finish.
Race one: 1st: No.2 Gaelic: Not disgraced first up when 9/10 in a BM64 provincial race and pulled up 2/5 lame, city winner on debut before just behind placegetters in Canberra Guineas Preview, thrown in at these conditions. 2nd: No.3 My Empire: Racing well this class and should be at peak now, likes this distance. 3rd: No.4 Dance Too Hard: Appreciated the dry track and got all the favours to win last time here, will need them again but is improving. 4th: No.10 Singing Dixie: Next best.
Race two: 1st: No.4 Temoin Chaud: Nice mare who has won 2/4 and very impressive only run this track and distance last prep, trapped wide and never a chance first up in a TAB Highway, winner when racing second up last prep. 2nd: No.1 Eaglehawk: He really turned the corner last prep when close up all runs, big effort first up when he chased a hot speed and run down late, good chance here. 3rd: No.2 Stilton: She has very solid form over the ditch and placed this trip, parade and market moves must be observed closely. 4th: No.5 Trapper Tom: In great form recently and not without claims here.
Race three: 1st: No.5 Garros: Very fit and honest, he was strong two runs back this track and distance on a heavy but goes equally well on top of the ground, back in trip last time from wide gate and had too much to do, will get a nice run. 2nd: No.6 Hilltop Hood: Not beaten far last time when forced back from awkward draw which he faces again here, claim helps and loves this track and distance. 3rd: No.3 Havaduel: In top form and shooting for the hat-trick, up a little in weight so needs the peach he got last time. 4th: No.4 Power Lift: Place chance at his first try this distance.
Race four: 1st: No.6 Aerobatic Warrior: On debut and looks ready to win off three nice city trials, well drawn and should be prominent throughout. 2nd: No.13 Wholesome Delight: Well-bred filly from a leading yard, on debut off a nice trial win and good draw, watch market. 3rd: No.8 Grand Lusitano: Hit the line strongly in only trial win recently, should balance up from wide gate and run on well. 4th: No.1 Underthespotlight: Solid run when placed at Albury.
Race five: 1st: No.1 Maccomo: Placed in 2/4 runs in provincial maidens, just missed when resuming over 1100 when finishing strongly, bigger track and extra distance a big plus for him. 2nd: No.9 General Dubai: Forgive only start when he raced greenly and on the wrong part of the track, trials have been very impressive and gets the favours. 3rd: No.11 Sabor: In the market on debut in town when 6/9 then spelled, has had three city trials and blinkers on this time so good intent shown here. 4th: No.13 Taylor Be Swift: Trialled well before good placing at Wagga, don't dismiss.
Race six: 1st: No.8 Shanaya: Smart mare who comes into this third up off a dominant win at Wagga, loves the 1000m and can win again in an open race. 2nd: No.5 Romeo Vella: Resumed with solid placing at Moruya when he chased hard, well drawn but second up form is a query. 3rd: No.4 Mad As Zariz: He has been very good this time in with two strong runs on heavy, handles all conditions. 4th: No.6 Verdi: Watch market.
Race seven: 1st: No.11 Onthetake: Form this prep first class, got back and finished off strongly to win over the 1000, has the ideal draw here and extra distance suits. 2nd: No.5 Concrete: Very honest fellow, good effort first up when on speed and just run down, will be thereabouts again. 3rd: No. 7 Ons Vier: Good run first up from soft draw and just behind the placegetters, her best runs are second up, draw a concern. 4th: No.13 Our Finvarra: Racing well and has claims again.
Race eight: 1st: No.5 Blazing Mac: Comes into this at third run and ready to peak, ran into a smart horse last time and will get a nice run throughout. 2nd: No.2 Winning Brothers: He is a big watch here, forgive last run has trialled well since and gets the blinkers on. 3rd: No.1 Temple Run: Well placed here on best form, stuck on wrong part of the track last time behind a city winner. 4th: No.8 Globalize: Don't dismiss at good odds.