MODERATELY performed pacer Yankee Clipper broke a long drought from the winners’ circle when he proved too good for ‘the other guys’ at Globe Derby Monday.
Trained and driven by Lane Johnson, Yankee Clipper began quickly from barrier four in search of the lead, but was unable to cross Daisyhall, which led from the pole.
With Johnson content to sit outside the pacemaker, the son of Roll With Joe produced a strong performance to score by a metre-and-a-half from Jagged Shadow, with Daisyhall a metre-and-a-half third.
Rating 1:59.3 over 1800 metres, the gelding registered his first win since May 2017.
“He went better than I thought he would,” Johnson said. “I was very happy to see him ‘fly like a peacock’!
“I’ve been having problems with him scoring up and he’s been out of the draw a few times, but he was a lot better this time.
“He did a bit of work early and kept going, which was extremely pleasing.
“It wasn’t an overly strong race, which helped, but he got the money at the end of the day which is the main thing.”
With no major plans in mind for the four-year-old, Johnson hopes Yankee Clipper can work his way through the grades, which could include a trip to Mildura to secure his Vicbred bonus.
“As a two-year-old he showed ability, but at three he didn’t go on with it,” Johnson said. “This time in he is going better and can hopefully get a few more wins now.
“He had a bit of speed at two but is one paced and more dour now.
“I’ll just keep looking for the right races for him and hopefully he will keep going well enough to head over to Mildura at some stage.”
