LEVER TURNS BACK THE CLOCK AT GUNDAGAI

TUESDAY: August 6, 2024: CLAIRE Lever has happy memories of Gundagai; the track where the former jockey won her first race after turning her hand to training.

And she was back there today to turn the clock back nearly four years.

Lever won the CG&E Maiden Plate (1400m) with well-supported $2.80 favorite Casanova (Winona Costin), who led home a Hawkesbury quinella, defeating fellow trainer Blake Ryan’s Call Me Grouchy ($3.40).

With only her third starter, Lever put her first winner on the board with Grace Bay ($3.50), ridden by husband Chad, in a Class 1 Handicap (1100m) at the Snake Gully Cup meeting at Gundagai on November 13, 2020.

After a successful 2023-24 season with 10 winners, the Hawkesbury trainer opened the new racing year with Casanova, a recent addition to her stable.

Initially trained in Sydney by another former jockey Craig Carmody, the lightly-raced Stratum Star four-year-old made his debut for Lever when third to Royale Veloute in a Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m) at Hawkesbury on July 21.

Dropping back to country grade, the gelding began well and trailed Call Me Grouchy, then had to be given a couple of reminders by his rider on the home turn.

However, he knuckled down well and was too strong in the closing stages for his Hawkesbury rival.

Lever told Sky Thoroughbred Central afterwards Casanova came to her in good order from Craig Carmody.

“He is bred to get further, and I think he will,” she said.

“I knew Winona wouldn’t give up, and it was a winning move to have her on the horse.”

Along with Call Me Grouchy, Blake Ryan also was placed with his other runner, Galactic Angel ($6), who ran third in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1180m).

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby ran second with resuming $26 outsider Will To Excel in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1800m).