HOWMUCHDOYOULOVEME turned back the clock to give apprentice Samantha Clenton her first stakes winner in the Listed $100,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford yesterday.
In another exciting finish, Howmuchdoyouloveme held off the charge of Slots with favourite Rule The River a close third after having trouble getting a clear run in the straight.
However, it would be difficult to take anything away from Howmuchdoyouloveme who travelled three-wide throughout yet was still able to power home for his fifth stakes win and his first in more than three years, taking his earnings to more than $700,000.
“This is definitely my biggest win,’’ an excited Clenton said of her breatkthough stakes win.
Trainer Con Karakatsanis described seven-year-old Howmuchdoyouloveme as a “great, old horse’’.
“He had no luck being posted three-deep the trip but he prefers to have galloping room,’’ Karakatsanis said.