Happy Clapper Explained

Horsename:Happy Clapper
Sire:Teofilo
Dam:Busking
Damsire:Encosta De Lago
Sex:Gelding
Foaled:25 October 2010
Country:Australia
Colour:Bay
Breeder:Michael Thomas
Owner:Michael Thomas
Trainer:Patrick Webster
Record:48: 12–12–6
Earnings:A$ 7,307,800[1]
Race:Villiers Stakes (2015)
Newcastle Newmarket (2017)
Tramway Stakes (2017)
Epsom Handicap (2017)
Canterbury Stakes (2018)
Doncaster Handicap (2018)
Craven Plate (2019)

Happy Clapper (foaled 25 October 2010) is a retired multiple Group 1 winning Australian bred thoroughbred racehorse.

He is also remembered for running second on 5 occasions behind champion race mare Winx.[2]

Racing career

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.

As a 5 year old he won his first stakes race when successful in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes. 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”.[3]

Happy Clapper finally tasted success as a 7 year old in a Group 1 race when successful in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick Racecourse. Trainer Pat Webster said after the race, “This is my greatest moment in racing”.[4]

Later that season he was successful in another two Group 1 races, the Doncaster Handicap and the Canterbury Stakes.

After finishing seventh in the 2020 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Happy Clapper was retired from racing and sent to ex-jockey Mal Fitzgerald who operates a facility for Racing NSW, retraining retired racehorses at Oxley Island near Taree.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Happy Clapper Horse Profile. racingaustralia.horse. 10 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Winx Stakes has Happy Clappers name all over it . theage.com.au. 26 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Happy Clapper wins the Group 2 Villiers . racingandsports.com . 26 January 2019.
  4. Web site: Richly deserved Epsom win for Happy Clapper . breednet.com.au . 26 January 2019.
  5. Web site: Happy Clapper retired after stellar career . 7news.com.au . 15 April 2020.