Cousins and co-trainers Gavin Clifton and David McKenzie are eyeing an early family Christmas celebration at The Meadows on Wednesday night when their exciting sprinter Photo Man tackles the Group 1 TAB Silver Chief (525m) heats.
Just three days after his second birthday, Photo Man, the winner of six of his nine starts, his last three in a row, will make his debut at The Meadows in the second of eight Silver Chief heats, at 8.41pm.
A powerful last start 29.54sec winner of a Restricted Win final at Sandown Park on Melbourne Cup night, Photo Man (Box 3) is the $3.70 second elect in a very competitive betting affair.
Anthony Azzopardi’s Substantial (Box 4) is the $3.10 favourite, Blazing Times (Box 1), trained by Angela Langton, is $3.90 and Compliance (Box 2), which has won four from five for Karen Pitt, is $5.
Clifton and McKenzie hosted Queensland star Spotted Elk, runner-up in the inaugural Phoenix at The Meadows last Saturday, and trainer Graham Hall during their Victorian campaign, and a favourably comparable Meadows trial from Photo Man has boosted their Silver Chief mood.
“He’s had a couple of trials at The Meadows and been impressive,” said Clifton.
“Spotted Elk stayed with us for the Phoenix and Photo Man went very similar early and quicker overall in a trial and she’s gone on to run second in the Phoenix!
“It’s really exciting to have a dog good enough for a race like this, but it’s a big step up.
WATCH: G1 Silver Chief contender Photo Man (4) was a strong-finishing 29.54sec winner of a Restricted Win final (515m) at Sandown Park on Melbourne Cup night.
“He’s in a hard heat. Karen Pitt’s dog (Compliance) in Box 2 has gone 5.03sec and the dog on the inside (Blazing Times) has early speed too.
“I think he’s a reasonable chance, but winning the whole thing is a long way away. There’s dogs in the series six months older, but you can’t win it sitting at home in your kennel!”
A son of 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Aston Dee Bee, which won a heat of the Silver Chief but fell in a semi-final, Photo Man is $18 in TAB’s ‘All In’ Silver Chief market.
Clifton is an expert at taking images in his ‘day job’ as a sonographer; however Photo Man is actually named after breeder Gerrie Sneyders.
“We’re good friends with Gerrie and his partner Pearl Terry,” Clifton explained.
“We were getting a muzzle fixed by Gerrie and I walked past a yard and said ‘Gee, I like those pups, are any for sale?
“We’d just won a race at Sandown, with Magic Marcia, so we had a few bob to spend, and after Gerrie and Pearl thought about it for a few days, we bought a dog and a bitch.
“Gerrie takes the photos at Warragul, so we called the dog Photo Man, and Pearl organises catchers there, so the bitch is named Catch A Pearl!
“Right from the start I can’t fault Photo Man. He’s a lovely dog, a real gentleman. He does everything right and has done from day one.”
Cousins David McKenzie and Gavin Clifton celebrate Photo Man winning on Melbourne Cup night.
