Clarice Cliffs completed a holiday treble for Greta West Stud graduates with a promising first-up victory at Geelong last week.

The Greg Eurell-trained mare started a $1.35 favourite and, as expected, controlled the Charles Rose Hcp (1140m) from the front-end under Nikita Beriman.  She had opened her first prep with a win at Sale in August and then finished second at Sandown before going out for a spell.

Clarice Cliffs (Canford Cliffs) is raced by a Hancox Bloodstock syndicate and was an $8,000 buy at the 2016 Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale.  “She’s back!” Eurell declared.  “She demolished that Sale field on debut and certainly has some get up and go.”

Her dam No Vanity (Keep The Faith) foaled a colt by Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (Ire) at Greta West in October.

The Geelong win followed interstate strikes by Disruptive (Perth) and Free Of Debt (Adelaide).

Disruptive (Reset) improved his record to 5 wins in 14 starts at Ascot on January 5.  He cost $80,000 at the 2016 Melbourne Premier Sale for owners Chris Wells and Bill Andrews.

He was eye-balled in front and kept kicking to win in a blanket finish to the Ascend Sales Hcp (1100m).  “He’s always there or thereabouts and was up against a good field today,” Wells said.  “It was terrific ride by Paul (Harvey) to stack them up and fight them off.”

Disruptive’s NZ-bred dam Lady Phoebe (Stravinsky) won twice at Sandown for Robbie Laing and Greta West studmaster Laurie McCarthy bred her back to Reward For Effort in September.

Trainer Chris Bieg has entered Free of Debt to continue the winning run this Saturday.  The 2yo colt by Unencumbered is Super VOBIS qualified and has been nominated for Flemington and Morphettville.

Free of Debt won on debut at Morphettville on Christmas Eve in a performance that belied a drift in betting.  He led them up and responded to a perfectly-timed Jake Toeroek ride for a narrow victory in the Alan Sarjent 2yo Plate (1050m).

“Jake is happy to get out of bed to ride this bloke…he loves him and we do, too!” Bieg said.  “He trialled super and the only concern was the 1050m could be a bit short.

“He’s like an old stager at home but turns up on race day.  He’s a progressive colt and has got a future once he gets up to 1400m to 1600m.”

Free of Debt was knocked down for $30,000 at the 2018 Adelaide Magic Millions.  His dam Stagerush (Giant’s Causeway) has a filly on the ground at Greta West by resident sire Master Of Design.

CLARICE CLIFFS
Hancox Bloodstock syndicate celebrate at Geelong