Scintillate Books Classic Berth In The Clarence

SCINTILLATE missed the carnage at the first turn but had to then use all her undoubted strength to win Sunday night's inaugural running of The Clarence (660m) at Grafton.

The daughter of Konomi and Sherbini scored by six and a quarter lengths over the luckless odds-on favourite Off The Richter with tearaway leader Mean Girl holding on for third.

The victory took Scintillate's record to 13 wins and 14 placings for stakes of $138,000.

She now gets her chance to contest the semi-finals of the Country Classic (605m) at Dubbo on March 9. The first four in The Clarence are eligible for the semis at Dubbo.

The $125,000-to-the-winner Country Classic final will be run on March 16.

“I was not planning on heading to the Country Classic with her, but now that she has won this race and qualified, she deserves her chance,” said Tzouvelis.

“I will contact the club and organise a trial for her.”

Scintillate is putting together a fine record having already won the Clem Jones Cup and been third in the G1 Golden Sands and G1 Garrards Gold Cup all at Albion Park.

Bred and raced by Peter and Sonia Davis, she is one of a strong team of stayers from the Tom Tzouvelis kennel.

The Clarence's hot favourite, Off The Richter, which had run a near track record winning his heat, was pushed back to last around the first turn when tangled up with faller Brindle Blaster.

He ran on powerfully for second but was never a winning chance after that early trouble.