The “miracle horse” Double Clutch is being given “a good chance” of winning Sunday’s Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville by the Paul Lafferty yard, “provided he stays the trip”.

The four-year-old Stronghold gelding will be making a last minute bid to book a place in the Vodacom Durban July as the final field for the big race will be announced two days later on June 23.

Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh said the courageous bay gelding had wrenched his back after being knocked sideways in the Listed Easter Handicap on April 10. He had still gone on to win the race, but he had subsequently required physiotherapy and had missed about a week of full work.

He was consequently not fully stripped before his unplaced run in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900.

Before that he had won three races in succession, all over 2000m, and leapt 20 points in the merit ratings to 99.

He had won most of those races from the front, but this was chiefly due to a lack of pace in the races, as he has shown before that he is capable of coming from last.

His dam by Northern Guest was unplaced but is a full-sister to a horse that won over 2400m and his second dam also won over the Derby distance.

Waugh was confident Double Clutch would stay the 2200m July trip, but still felt there would be a question mark over this 2400m distance.

Double Clutch has a tough task on Sunday receiving only 1kg from 112 merit rated Equus Champion Stayer Hot Ticket, meaning he is 5,5kg under sufferance. However, he is the third best weighted horse in the eight horse race on official merit ratings so has a chance of winning if Hot Ticket fluffs his lines.

Double Clutch has run three times at Scottsville and finished second in two of them, so appears to handle the track.

Furthermore, he will be ridden by the very much in-form championship chasing jockey Gavin Lerena from a plum draw of two.

Double Clutch was diagnosed with West Nile  disease in the first half of last season. This is the same disease that was believed to have killed the mighty Jet Master.

Double Clutch weighed 100kg less than he does now and was close to being euthanized. The veterinarian had also advised that even if he did recover he would never race again. On one occasion the yard were unable to help him walk from his stable across a strip of concrete onto a grass patch. He was simply too weak.

He eventually managed to  achieve this short trip after being fitted with special foam shoes. It is quite incredible that he has won five races since making a full recovery from his illness and is an entry in the country’s premier race the Vodacom Durban July.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Double Clutch (Nkosi Hlophe)