HAPPY CLAPPER
The Clapper was runner-up to the champion race mare Winx five times, and almost got her
When Darley Stud decided to cull broodmare, Busking and offered her for sale at the 2010 Inglis Broodmare Sale, Michael Thomas decided to snap her up, in foal to Teofilo, for $13,000. The foal ended up being none other then Happy Clapper. Teofilo has subsequently sired Australian Group One winners Palentino, Kermadec, Humidor and Sonntag, and his fee at Darley was $44,000. Standing at 17 hands he was a giant and proved tough to ride as a strong galloper. A nervous type, Happy Clapper would shy at anything, but with ear muffs and over time he matured into a more relaxed animal. His Kiwi born strapper, Ainsley Fox built a strong bond with the horse and trainer Pat Webster put much of his success down to her hard work and dedication.
Happy Clapper raced as a 2 year old and 3 year old without success. The horse won his first race as a 4 year old at Sydney’s Canterbury Park Racecourse when ridden by jockey Blake Shinn. Happy Clapper made his debut with a third placing in a Kembla Grange maiden back on July 20, 2013 and he closed out with a seventh behind Addeybb at his 48th start at Randwick.
He first took on Winx when fifth to the champ in the George Ryder in 2016 before finishing second to her in the Doncaster that year. In total Happy Clapper took on Winx 11 times for his five seconds, with the closest being a three-quarter length second in the 2018 George Ryder. At one point he looked the winner until the great mare lifted her stride to finish over the top. Sadly for the Clapper, he never got to add that deed to his resume.
As a 5 year old he won his first stakes race when successful in the Gr.2 Villiers Stakes. Happy Clapper’s jockey had no option but to go back to the inside, which appeared a death wish, but what happened next only emphasised the racehorse’s abundant talent as he overcame track bias to score a memorable win in the $250,000 event over 1600m at Royal Randwick. Jockey Brenton Avdulla said he had to angle for an inside run at the top of the straight on Happy Clapper, taking the Villiers favourite back into inferior going. After the race trainer, Pat Webster stated “I've had some good horses, but I’d have to say this is the best horse I’ve had”.
Happy Clapper finally tasted success as a 7 year old in a Group one race when successful in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick Racecourse. Happy Clapper won the Group Two Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes over 1400m, his eighth career victory and third at stakes level, following on from the Villiers and a Group Three Newmarket at Newcastle.
Webster has been training at Randwick for 50 years but it was Happy Clapper who put him on the national stage with his not only his wins, but his gallant placings chasing Winx home over four seasons. As a young horse, Happy Clapper suffered a serious leg injury when he was spooked by a fox at trackwork but he came back under Webster’s watchful eye to win 12 races, highlighted by the 2018 Doncaster Mile. In winning the Doncaster, Happy Clapper became the only horse in history to win the three big handicap miles at Randwick after winning the Villiers in 2015 and the Epsom in 2017.
The curtain came down on a wonderful career of crowd favourite Happy Clapper with his seventh-place finish in Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Happy Clapper was retired from racing at almost 10 years of age and sent to ex-jockey Mal Fitzgerald who operates a facility for Racing NSW, retraining retired racehorses at Oxley Island near Taree.
RACE RECORD - 48: 12–12–6
EARNINGS - A$ 7,307,800
Villiers Stakes (2015)
Newcastle Newmarket (2017)
Tramway Stakes (2017)
Epsom Handicap (2017)
Canterbury Stakes (2018)
Doncaster Handicap (2018)
Craven Plate (2019)