Duke's high hopes for 'very smart' juvenile hurdler Clemencia

Brendan Duke does not do pessimism and new dreams abound for the trainer who is utterly convinced he has come across his ticket to the top with Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle contender Clemencia.

An impressive winner on his second outing over flights at Cork a fortnight ago, Clemencia has earned himself a crack at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day and Duke, well known for having the utmost confidence in his horses, is certain he’s dealing with a real one.

Clemencia: put in a sparkling performance to win at CorkCredit: Alain Barr

Speaking about Clemencia, as big as 50-1 for the Triumph Hurdle, Duke said: “We have a very smart horse on our hands. I'm very much looking forward to Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day in the sure and certain knowledge that Santa always comes to me.

“I think the horse is a really smart athlete and he showed that the last day at Cork where he beat a rock-solid horse [Pasley] by 15 lengths going away.

“I truly believe that he's improved from that and he's been shouting out at me from his box telling me that he's improved.

“He's shouting, 'Brendan let me go!' It's very hard to put your hands on a good horse and we've been two years searching for another good one [after Warm The Voice].”

Duke had sent out only one other winner in 2019 before Clemencia's victory at Cork, and even then, it was achieved through luck as the original winner [Kilcarry View] was disqualified after the rider drew the incorrect weight.

Warm The Voice: won three races for Brendan Duke in 2017Credit: Patrick McCann

The man who lit up the 2017 Flat season in Ireland by sending out Warm The Voice to win three races and before being placed in the Beresford Stakes behind Saxon Warrior, admits training has been a struggle in recent years, but horses like Clemencia make the game worthwhile.

Duke said: “I'm thinking of Bannow Rambler, I'm thinking Our Conor, and I'm thinking I've got myself a proper racehorse. I'm really looking forward to what will be a stern test on St Stephen's Day.

“The great thing about this whole thing is that in my heart and soul I don't think I'm dreaming here. I think we've genuinely come across a real smart horse.”

He added: “We've had a terrible season, just because we didn't have the ammunition.

"We had a pretty smart two-year-old who met with a fatal accident and from there on the season has been pretty hard work. It's a real struggle to keep the whole thing going.

"It terrorises me to think that one day I wouldn't be able to keep doing what I'm doing, but you need horses like this. Every yard needs a flagship horse and I think this horse can be ours.”

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