Narromine, Scone Monday previews: Trainer Jane Clement keeps keen eye on son Braith Nock's century chase
Trainer Jane Clement will be taking as much of an interest in today's Scone meeting as she will at Narromine given her rising star son Braith Nock can tick off another milestone in his epic season.
Nock 's tally of winners throughout New South Wales is 99, just one behind current ladder leader Ashley Morgan.
Add on two wins in Queensland and Nock's nationwide total of 101 is equal to that of Craig Williams and one above James McDonald.
Clement was there at Inverell on Cup day, January 1, 2023, to see her son ride his first winner from his first ride, no less.
And while Nock's reputation and statue has risen immensely since then, success hasn't changed him one bit.
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'He is just very humble,'' Clement said.
'He had three winners last week and you ring him up and you say 'how ya going, good on ya mate' and you wouldn't even think he's ridden a winner sort of thing.
'He doesn't say too much about it but his goals are inside his head. He doesn't spruik about things or anything like that.
'He's pretty amazing, once he sets his mind on something, he really delivers.
'I know he's my kid but he's just a freak really.'
A double for Braith Nock at Scone, as he pilots New Pharoah to victory in Race 4. @cavanoughracing pic.twitter.com/FQ0kLLJFyu
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 14, 2025
Nock may well be humble but that doesn't mean he isn't competitive.
He's got one hand on the coveted Champion Sydney Apprentice's title and is intent on joining the epic honour roll of past winners like George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris, Darren Beadman, Hugh Bowman and Tommy Berry.
'He was 20 (wins) behind Molly Bourke probably three or four months ago and it wasn't a thing he was going to chase and then he said 'righto I am going chase it' and that's what he's done,'' Clement said.
Young apprentice jockey Braith Nock has put his bull riding career on hold to focus on racing!
He headed out on the boat with @CoreyGoodSkillz to catch a few fish and talk about what he's achieved so far. 🎣 pic.twitter.com/uVLirtCaBm
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 10, 2023
While Nock is almost certain to crack the (NSW) century on Monday, Clement is closing in on a milestone of her own with 295 wins on her resume.
All things being equal, she could get to 299 by the close of business on Monday with four major players to represent her at Narromine, namely Hefty Price, Hardhead, Mythical Moochi and The Great Armada.
All four of her Narromine quartet will be ridden by Bronte Simpson, herself a young and talented apprentice who rode three winners in the space of two-days last week.
'She's going really well,' Clement said. 'She's only a newbie but she is doing a great job.'
Clement (and Simpson) are sure to play a role in an absorbing finale via the emerging 'Country Cups' galloper The Great Armada who tackles the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1300m) after rock solid performances in the Glen Innes and Gulgong Cups at his past couple.
'I really honestly think he can do a really good job (on Monday),'' Clement said.
'He is just racing really well. He ran fourth in the Glen Innes Cup and then he ran second the other day and it probably did suit.
'He got back and there was a lot of kickback and he didn't really like that and 1200m was probably a little bit short for him.
'He has been to Narromine twice and won both times so he obviously likes it there.'
Clement's first runner on the Narromine card today is Hefty Price, by Xtravagant out of a mare named Miss Expensive.
Granted it is a clever name but hardly apt according to his admiring owner/trainer.
'We worked it out the other day, ' she says. 'I think he's won over $30,000 for us now and he was only a 'cheapie'.
'He's very honest and tries his hardest.'
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MUSWELLBROOK trainer Justin Bowen can make a case for any, and all, of his six runners at Scone on Monday – even the one priced at $61.
Bowen's longshot on the card is the first-starter, Droplets, who has company from her stablemates Our Land ($13) and Hot Chestnut ($26) in the Bengalla King of The Ranges Maiden Handicap (900m).
A two-year-old daughter of Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, Droplets clocked in fifth of the seven runners in her recent trial at Scone and while nine-lengths off the winner, she earned praise for the performance.
'She just needed the experience and the outing,'' Bowen began. 'And she's gone out there at her first trial on a bog track and didn't completely get through it so I thought there was plenty of merit in that and she's come through the other side really well.'
Both Droplets and Our Land are members of Hunter Valley breeding royalty as direct descendants of the celebrated broodmare, Winged Beauty.
Our Land, a son of Territories out of an unraced Galileo mare, was underwhelming in his May trial on the Beaumont track, finishing last of the five.
Fast forward to June 5 and the three-year-old was runner-up that time around.
'It was a big improvement on his first trial which is what you hope to see,'' Bowen said.
'It was pretty wet and a heavy track and he still needed the experience, so I thought he did a great job.
'We landed with Aaron (Bullock) on Monday which is a blessing especially on a young horse like him having his first start.'
As for Hot Chestnut, there won't be a flashier or better-bred horse in the parade ring.
A chestnut grandson of the aforementioned Galileo, his dam is a half-sister to the bonny mare, Hot Danish.
'I definitely think he has got the ability, it is just whether or not we see it this time or next,'' Bowen says.
Bowen also saddles-up two $51 outsiders in the l ast race at Scone but argues that both Atoka and Thirteen Under can make their presence felt.
Atoka has won just once in her 30 starts and Thirteen Under is himself one from 21, but both of the four-year-olds have been going around in uncommonly strong Class 1s since they elevated from Maiden status.
'Atoka is flying at the moment and really thriving. She gets her chance again,'' Bowen said.
TAB Highway winner, Calico Miss.
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