Clifton stunned by Photo Man’s shock Topgun triumph
Co-trainer Gavin Clifton was almost lost for words after Photo Man’s upset all-the-way victory in the $233,250 Topgun at The Meadows on Saturday night.
In a truly remarkable result, the two-year-old was originally selected as the first reserve for the Group 1 feature.
He was only elevated into the field on Wednesday following the scratchings of interstate stars Good Odds Cash and Orchestrate.
It was still all ahead of him from there, picking up the vacant box eight, but he took his chance and went on to record a comprehensive victory that left many punters stunned.
“Absolutely unbelievable – it’s staggering,” the Gippsland-based Clifton told Racing.com after the race.
“I don’t know what to say. From not being in the race, to being in the race, to drawing the car park.”
After opening up a massive mid-race lead, Photo Man went on to salute by 2 ¼ lengths in a time of 29.91 seconds over the 525m distance.
Respective Million Dollar Chase and Perth Cup winners McInerney and Vice Grip were second and third.
G1 Topgun (525m) race replay | November 5, 2022 | Photo Man (1st)
Superstar bitch and $2.50 favourite Wow She’s Fast started slowly from box five and never recovered, pushed well back and going on to finish last.
It wasn’t just the outside box and quality field which Photo Man had to overcome in order to salute on Saturday night.
The talented youngster also had his injury hurdles leading into the race.
“The story will come out eventually about what we’ve been through in the last few weeks with this dog, with a split webbing in Adelaide,” Clifton said.
“My cousin Dave (McKenzie, also the co-trainer) and I have worked really hard, so hard, to get him up in the last few weeks – down the beach, salt water.
“To get him over the line is enormous.
“This is a pipedream. I’ll have to get Dave to pinch me to make sure it has happened.”
Photo Man has now won 13 of his 32 starts, with the $150,000 Topgun winner’s purse boosting his earnings to $425,005.
The Topgun was Photo Man’s second Group success, having won the G2 Flying Amy Classic in Brisbane in June after he finished third in both his previous G1 appearances, in the Adelaide Cup and Brisbane Cup.
Clifton was also left pinching himself at the future – on the track and at stud – which Photo Man is now set to enjoy.
“It’s super exciting. What this is going to do for his stud career is enormous. He’s the best dog we’ve had by a long way,” he said.