Blue Gum Farm is nestled at the foot of the Strathbogie Ranges in Euroa, an expansive 800 acres built from scratch with thoroughbreds in mind. Irish champion miler, Canford Cliffs shuttled from Coolmore IRE to Blue Gum Farm for a number of seasons, successfully covering in his first season at Blue Gum the maiden mare No Vanity in 2013 for Greta West Stud. Hancox Bloodstock purchased the unassuming filly for a mere $8,000 when she was presented at the Inglis Vobis Gold Sale in 2016 by Little Plains Stud. Hancox Racing Principal Shelley Hancox knew the family well following their careers and felt the very immature filly was correct and had the scope to furnish into a nice horse.
Clarice Cliffs ended up with 80% of her owners made up of people exercising their free replacement horse option (Hancox offer free replacement horses to owners of horses that do not win a race) she was earmarked for Greg Eurell to train as he had previously mentioned how impressed he was with Canford Cliffs after seeing him at Blue Gum Farm and he had subsequently sent the mare Great Dame to him that season (the resulting foal is Great Duchess – earnings to date 270K).
A lightly framed filly, small in stature compensated by a larger than life personality, embarked on her education and training a full year later at Cadet Lodge in July 2017. A very late bloomer, Greg saw something in her, she was a beautiful moving filly and had the right attitude thankfully Hancox were more than happy to give her the time needed to educate her and allow her to mature.
On debut at Sale as a 4 year old Clarice went out and won by 2 lengths, the beginning of a consistent career earning a cheque every start with 4 wins and 5 placings from 12 starts. Resuming after a lengthy spell Clarice headed out to Geelong notching up another win and then backing up four weeks later at Pakenham with a record breaking performance!
Greg earmarked Clarice for the VOBIS Gold Distaff at Caulfield, and with Jye Mcneil staying in the saddle after a super 2nd at Bendigo last month she was ready to win. The pair got away well and settled nicely in the run, rounding the home turn Clarice and Jye set themselves up at the 200m when they burst clear from the rest of the field and in a perfect display of social distancing they cross the line winning by 1.5 lengths.
An incredible outing made even more fitting with the daughter of Canford Cliffs winning the race sponsored by Blue Gum Farm where her sire once stood at Stud.