Leading NZ Trainer Steve Clark Dies

IT came as a huge shock to those at Manukau Stadium on Sunday when the devastating news about the passing of leading local conditioner Steve Clark filtered through.

Clark had accepted with the outstanding greyhound Pinny Mack for the Peter Earley Classic with the current New Zealand Cup title holder being a favoured contender for the 527m feature event.

But when he failed to arrive for kenneling on Sunday, friends became worried and went to Clark's only to find that he had passed away in his sleep Saturday night.

Steve Clark enjoyed a long and successful involvement in greyhound racing spanning nearly five decades after picking up the collar and lead from his father Ron.

He really hit the headlines when he formed a close partnership with Perth based Jimmy Lee, sourcing his first greyhound from him back in 2008.

It was an inspired move as the greyhound Go Now won his first ten races straight for Clark.

Go Now was raced by Sydneysider Bryan Freemantle and that was the start of a long and very fruitful friendship with Clark, training plenty of group 1 winners for him and his mates which was kick-started by Magic Spike, which provided Clark with his first victory at the elite level in the 2008 Waterloo Cup. 

Around the same time, Freemantle sent Royal Doll across the Tasman to Clark and it was in the breeding barn where she really made her impact.

She whelped three litters however it was the litter sired by Over Flo that really hit the jackpot. The litter included Grizz and Peking Tom which ran the quinella in the 2012 New Zealand Derby.  

Clark was to go on and prepare another three winners of the time honoured Waterloo Cup with Piggy Back (2013) and Blitzing Mayhem (2014) for Freemantle. Pinny Mac delivered a third in 2018 while Blitzing Mayhem also won the 2014 New Zealand Cup.

"Geez, we had some fun with Steve," said a clearly distraught Freemantle.

"He was a first-class bloke and trainer and he won heaps of races for us. I can assure you the beers really flowed during our visits across the ditch."

However, it was the potent Clark mentored stayer Swift Fantasy which cut through into mainstream Kiwi media with her phenomenal and at times freakish staying performances. 

Numbered among her career wins was the 2010 edition of the Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar (779m).

Just prior to that win, Swift Fantasy decisively won an invitational four-dog 779m Top Dog Shootout which included leading Victorian stayer of the time Nellie Noodles from the Rob Britton kennels. 

Stephen Clark wore his heart on his sleeve and he was known for his forthright opinions which occasionally brought him to the attention of officialdom.

However, he had the knack of smoothing issues over, often sitting back and enjoying a beer and chuckle with all and sundry.   

A service for Clark will be held at Manukau Stadium, 11am on Friday.