Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 60894 Episodic Regains Winning Touch To Trainers Delight

After two unplaced finishes at stakes level, sharp mare Episodic returned to the winner's stall on Saturday with an impressive win at Murray Bridge.

Guided under a gun steer from Todd Pannell, the daughter of Tavistock held off race favourite Let's Get Down in the closing stages to salute in a Benchmark 76 over 1200m.

It was Episodic's first run in Benchmark grade following two unplaced runs in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes and Listed Christmas Handicap, either side of a four-and-a-half month spell.

Trainer Niki O'Shea was thrilled to have his gun mare back in form, notching the fifth race win of her 18-start career.

"(We're) delighted with that; it's a great effort by the team to get her back going," O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken, said.

"She had a big prep last prep; sometimes those mares don't turn up after a spell; it's great to get her back going.

"She's a quality mare, a real stable favourite, (she's) beautiful, so we're delighted to get her to win again."

O'Shea was full of praise for Pannell's ride; the hoop settled in the box seat, peeling off the rail at the 400m before winding up strongly.

The stable has another stakes tilt on the radar for the Pinecliff Racing-owned Episodic as they chase black-type status.

"She's tough as nails and just tries her heart out every time; Todd rode her lovely again today, probably against her usual pattern, she usually gets right back and goes down the outside, but he was clever enough to use his position and he rode her beautifully," he said.

"That's the aim (black type). She's racing for good clients, and she's got good pedigree; she deserves some black type – she's been really solid."

 

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