‘Excited to get down there’: Ardmona trainer chases Flemington success

By Aydin Payne

Nov 1, 2022

Headquarters awaits: Ardmona trainer Ivan Lister will saddle up his seven-year-old galloper Burning The Clock in Thursday’s G.H Mumm Century Stakes at Flemington. Photo: Racing Photos Photo by Brendan McCarthy

There is arguably no bigger week in racing than the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

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Ask any trainer, hoop and punter and they will tell you the same thing.

Cup week at Flemington is an experience not to be missed.

And Ardmona trainer Ivan Lister is set to join in on the party come Thursday afternoon with his talented gelding Burning The Clock.

Lister will saddle up the seven-year-old in the G.H Mumm Century Stakes (1000m) in the lead-up to the day’s headline act the Group One Oaks (2500m).

Lister, who bases his stable out of Echuca, said he was thrilled to be involved in one of the biggest days on the racing calendar.

“I’m just excited to get down there,” he said on Tuesday.

“I’ve been down there three or four times now as a trainer and each time there’s plenty of excitement.

“It’s pretty hard for us country trainers to get involved in the big races, so I’m very proud to be going down there and who knows, hopefully we can come home with a win.”

Lister’s hopeful Burning The Clock, enters the Listed grade race with a truckload of momentum.

Burning The Clock is aiming for a hat-trick of wins after triumphs at Echuca and Ballarat in this preparation.

But the trip to Flemington on Thursday is a big test for the stable’s in-form sprinter.

Burning The Clock’s most recent victory on October 7 came in a benchmark 58 rated affair, where jockey Neil Farley steered the gelding to an impressive two-length triumph.

Despite the back-to-back wins the corporate bookies have rated Burning The Clock at odds of 126-1.

Lister conceded his star runner faces a steep climb in class and is up against ‘some smart horses, but he doesn’t believe Burning The Clock will be out of his depth in the race.

“We know we’re up against it ... but you have got to be in it to win it,” he said.

“It’s been difficult with the recent weather, but we have been able to get a gallop into him on grass and I reckon he won’t be far off his peak.”

Burning The Clock has drawn well in barrier four and Lister expects his runner to find a suitable run just off the speed.

It won’t be the first attempt down the Flemington straight for Burning The Clock either, something that Lister believes will help benefit his runner’s chances.

Another factor that will boost Burning The Clock’s prospects is the weather — with recent rain set to leave the track in the soft range.

However, wet weather has been a threat to not only Burning The Clock’s preparation, but to the Lister operation as well.

The recent floods in the Goulburn Valley had water make its way up to Lister’s Ardmona property and, although, Lister said the impact was nowhere near the severity of other locals, quick action was needed to protect his horses.

“When it became evident the stables were under threat, local business Tatura Lawns and Landscaping came to the fore, committing a laborer and equipment to create a levee to protect the horses. Quick preparation was essential and would not have been possible without that support,” Lister said.

“Without (their) support, we would not have been prepared, nor in the position we are now. We are extremely grateful for this act of friendship and concern for another small business.”