3 minute read
A beaming Udyta Clarke has welcomed Megamea back to the winner’s stall at Flemington.
Megamea has registered an emotional win for owner Udyta Clarke when the daughter of Master Of Design took out the Leilani Series Final at Flemington.
Clarke was training Megamea up until the likable Cranbourne-based trainer was found unconscious in a paddock on her property in November 2020.
Diagnosed with bleeding on the brain, Clarke faced a long battle with her health, but the one thing that kept her going was her horses.
Transferred into the care of Luke Oliver, Megamea was successful in her second start for him in January at Sandown before scoring again at Sandown when resuming last month.
After missing the start in Saturday's 1400m contest, Daniel Stackhouse allowed Megamea, the $3.10 favourite, time to gather her momentum before bringing her with a well-timed run to score by a half-neck from Galgani ($8.50) with Il Affare ($4.20) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Clarke prepared Rich Charm to win the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival and while the emotions were a little subdued on Saturday compared to that win, there was many celebrating the success.
Still returning to full fitness, Clarke said Saturday victory was important.
"Especially when she comes here and wins like that. It's very nice," Clarke said.
Clarke had trained Megamea to win just twice in 16 starts while the mare is now a five-time winner from 23 starts with more than $250,000 in prize money banked.
"Look at all he's done for her," Clarke said of Oliver.
"He's made her a nice horse and he's made her a sensible horse. "
Stackhouse said to return to scale aboard Megamea and see Clarke's smiling face added to the victory.
"It's what racing's all about," Stackhouse said.
"Where Udyta has come from, she's been in a bad way for a long time, and it's just a credit to be able to put a smile on her face again."
Mrs Clarke is back with another Flemington winner!
— Racing.com (@Racing) July 2, 2022
Megamea was slow to begin but she was determined to win today! @LOliverRacing @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/n7aCvyjEji
