Trainer hopeful gelding has turned the corner

Trainer John Thompson isn’t quite ready to start trusting stakes placed gelding Clear Proof just yet but that could change if he continues what may be a revival at Kensington on Wednesday.

The four-year-old kicked off his career with a win at the same track in June 2024 then finished second in the Listed Rosebud at his next start but hasn’t gone on with the job as he promised to do.

Randwick trainer John Thompson.Credit: Getty Images

A last start second, his first time on the podium since that Rosebud effort, has Thompson hopeful Clear Proof has turned the corner and doesn’t mind he’s striking a rain affected track.

“He ran well the other day so hopefully he can back it up,” he said.

“He works like a winner, he’s just got to do everything right in a race.

“He’s been running all right on good tracks and his good form was on wet tracks so that’s not going to worry him.”

Thompson accepted in two races and was leaning to the Spelling At Coolmore Mt White Handicap (1250m) though is an emergency for a later race.

He said Clear Proof became a “non-trier”, in his view, but he has seen a different side in what is his second preparation since being gelded.

“He was a bad colt when he started and because he showed a bit of promise he was left a colt a bit too long,” Thompson said.

“I gave him a good spell this time. He was out with half a dozen horses in a big paddock and we just let him be a horse.

“We took him to Queensland and back for his head to mature and his runs since he’s been back have been good.”

He finished a close fourth behind Oui Oui Oui in a Midway then ran on from last to finish midfield behind the exciting Cross Tasman on Boxing Day before his Warwick Farm placing two weeks ago.

In that race Clear Proof led and was only run down as a $61 chance in the concluding stages by Ellipsis so the trainer’s fingers are crossed he can spring out again.

“He’s been mucking up in the barriers and missing the kick. Dylan (Gibbons) said he reared and when he came down on the ground the gates opened and he jumped,” Thompson said.

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