Plenty of Time for Clarke

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24: Darico Clarke wants to test himself against the best.

That’s why he is looking forward for his pony Time After Time taking on Colin Mello’s Big Red Machine in the Boxing Day Stakes races.

Clarke’s pony is making a triumphant return after a two-year break from the sport.

The duo got its second leg out of its time bar to advance to the Free For All, which pits Bermuda’s fastest ponies against each other.

Clarke said because of taking a break, Time After Time was pushed back one time bar and had to prove its worth.

“She’s a very special horse so I knew it wouldn’t be too long before we move up. I knew with this mare once she got her confidence up, she would go faster – she likes to win.

“As she wins, she seems to go faster and faster. A lot depends on what company she is around.”

He said the move up is good because it’s the start of trying to win trophies in the season.

“I figured it’s time to push her. When I pushed her, she showed me what she had and it seems like she has a little bit more.”

Time after Time has clocked a 1:04/3 this season which would normally help her contend for honours amongst the best ponies, but Big Red Machine is having a phenomenal season, breaking or equaling the track record on several occasions.

On Monday in the Boxing Day Stakes, Time After Time will be contending for the Aged title for ponies over four-years-old.

Time After Time won a Stakes title two years ago when she was racing but Clarke said “With Big Red Machine around it will be tough but on the day anything is possible.

Clarke said one of the other drivers in the Free For All time bar gets upset when he gets pitted against the Big Red Machine but really doesn’t mind because it helps him push his horse to go faster.

“That’s why I am looking to racing in the Free For All to race against Big Red Machine because the way my mare is, she doesn’t give up or let people get too far away from her.

"I’m looking forward to racing against Big Red because I know she’s not going to get away from me because of the way my mare is.

“In the stakes races that’s who I am drawn against.”

Clarke said there are approximately 10 ponies in the top time bar and it has to be split up into more than one race so it’s possible not to be in the same heat as Mello’s horse.