Lucky to be alive, let alone winning!

HE PRODUCED a scintillating effort to win, but the fact Give Fred A Clap is alive, let alone racing, is the true impressive story according to Craig Hoban.

With Hoban in the cart, Give Fred A Clap - to use a tired cliché - "came from nowhere" to win in Cranbourne on Sunday night.

Entering the back straight, Give Fred A Clap was 10 metres from the second last runner, 30 metres from the leader and appeared to be struggling.

"He is very green and just lost concentration," Hoban said. "They quickened up and he stayed as he was.

"He just remained in cruise mode as though he thought he had another lap-and-a-half to go, not a half a lap!"

Having passed only one opponent turning for home, and racing extremely greenly, the well-bred gelding unleashed a strong sprint to reach the lead in the last stride, scoring by a neck from the pacemaker, Final Promise.

Normy was a metre-and-a-half away third in 1:57.3 over a mile.

"He still doesn't know what he is doing, but he showed the ability is there," Hoban said. "He's only had five starts, for the two wins and a second, and I'm sure he will get better as he matures.

"To even have him racing is an incredible story in itself, as at one stage he was only a few weeks away from needing to be put down.

"As a weanling he had some serious hoof issues and it wasn't looking good.

"Adam Shaw put a lot of work and care into him and pretty much saved his life!

"Now we've got ourselves a handy horse, which gives the indication he can go on to better things."