Suncraze boosts Country Championship hopes

Suncraze has taken an encouraging step towards the Country Championships with a first-up Randwick win.

Suncraze, the $5 second elect for the Country Championships final at Randwick in April, extended his consistent record with a fourth win from 11 starts in the Mostyn Cooper Group Handicap.

The four-year-old, who has never placed worse than second, shaded No Interest ($17) by a short half-head.

Star Of Monsoon ($6) was a long head back in third.

Suncraze ($4) is now targeting the Country Championships qualifier in Scone on March 18 with Tamworth-based trainer Melanie O’Gorman indicating he may tune up for that assignment in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup on March 3.

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“We always felt he was immature as baby so it’s nice to see him come back bigger and stronger,” she said.

Suncraze’s cause was aided by the late scratching of Godolphin’s $3.20 favourite Osborne Bulls who failed a vet inspection after lunging in his barrier stall.

Suncraze rounded off a successful meeting for Tim Clark, who rode four winners on his daughter Ellie’s eighth birthday.

“It’s a special day. I had some nice chances,” he said.

“Corey (Brown) rides him, he’s suspended so it was just one of those things.

Clark also saluted on Santos, Quick Defence and Faraway Town.