The biggest cheer of the day at Scone was reserved for hometown hero Clearly Innocent who rang up number one for new trainer Kris Lees in the Listed Yarraman Park Luskin Star Stakes (1300m).
After his former trainer Greg Bennett took a job with AQUIS Farm in Queensland, Clearly Innocent moved to the stable of Kris Lees.
The son of Not A Single Doubt rounded out a great season in the same race last year but had been winless in four starts since.
But the 5yo gelding has a perfect record on the scenic country track with six wins from as many starts.
"He knows the track better than me and he showed me the way," winning jockey Hugh Bowman said.
Clearly Innocent defeated the Hawkes Racing-trained Snoopy (Lope De Vega) by two and a quarter lengths with a half-neck back to Peter and Paul Snowden's Gold Symphony (Reward For Effort) in third. (photo Steve Hart)
The Cressfield Stud homebred advances his record to 8 wins and 1 second from 14 starts with earnings of $603,600.
"That was a great thrill," Lees said.
"He's got a great affinity with this track and he really let fly.
"He's a lovely horse and that's very pleasing to be able to produce him and for him to win like that today."
"That was a great thrill," Lees said.
"He's got a great affinity with this track and he really let fly.
"He's a lovely horse and that's very pleasing to be able to produce him and for him to win like that today.
"We'll have a look at the Brisbane race (Kingsford Smith Stakes) in a couple of weeks.
"It's a big jump but he's a horse in form and deserves a crack at those sort of races.
"He's in the Stradbroke in four weeks so we'll give him a try in the lead-up and then assess from there.
"I'd love them to move the Stradbroke here if that tracks no good."
Bred and owned by Bruce Neill's Cressfield Stud, Clearly Innocent is the third foal of his dam No Penalty, a 4-time winning daughter of Zabeel, who was sold by Cressfield for $16,000 at the 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare sale.
A three-quarter sister to the Listed Reginald Allen Handicap winner Gimmick, the dam of Group 1 TJ Smith Classic winner Rinky Dink, and a half-sister to the dam of the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Sale Of Century, No Penalty hails from the family of Group 1 winners Domino, Hero and Veloso.
No Penalty has an unraced 2yo filly by Street Boss (USA) named Scrutinizer and a weanling colt by Patronize.
She was bred back to Not A Single Doubt last spring.
