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Raquel Clark’s win on I’m Wesley couldn’t have come at a better time as she now starts an enforced holiday.
Clark was suspended for seven meetings in Adelaide on Melbourne Cup day and will take the opportunity to freshen up while catching up with family and friends at home.
“I got two suspensions on the same day and was hoping the stewards would make them concurrent but they didn’t,” she said.
“It was disappointing because I’d had a lot of rides since my last suspension so I was hoping that my good record would be taken into account.”
Clark, Tasmania’s premier apprentice before joining leader trainer Leon MacDonald in Adelaide earlier this year, said she was rapt to win her home state’s premier sprint.
“This is the race I came home for and I’m grateful that Glenn gave me the ride and my boss allowed me to come home to take it,” the jockey said.
“I won two races on this horse at Devonport over the winter carnival so I knew he was a serious chance.”
Clark positioned I’m Wesley just behind the leaders before looming to challenge rounding the home turn.
The heavily-backed favourite ($5.50 into $2.80) then overpowered the leaders to score by a length from Lord Da Vinci with Gee Gee Red Prince a short head away third.
Lord Da Vinci was a big drifter in the betting from $2.25 to $3.50 while Gee Gee Red Prince, who was also placed in the race last race, started at $15.
Gee Gee Red Prince was followed home by Geegees Doublejay, Gee Double Dee and Gee Gees Jet.
The winner’s stablemate Killin Falls ran seventh, beaten only two lengths.
The time for the race was 1:08.94 (record 1:08.05).