Clem ready to ramp up training as retirement nears

By Jordan Gerrans

With retirement looming from the workforce, smiling Bundaberg trainer Gary Clem believes it is the perfect opportunity to ramp up his interests in the racing game.

When people are approaching retirement from their day job, they are usually looking to wind down in life.

At 60 years of age, Clem is approaching it the opposite way.

After many decades of working for Bundaberg Sugar on its cane farms, while juggling a small team of horses, Clem feels that the time is coming to go full steam ahead with his horses.

With a runner in the Battle of the Bush decider this Saturday in the city, it presents an ideal chance for the stable to showcase its wares on the big stage.

As a long-time hobby trainer in regional Queensland, Clem says he has received plenty of encouragement from owners and fellow industry participants to take the next step into full-time training.

“They're pressuring me to go full-time,” Clem said of his training ambitions.

“But, I'd have to have at least 12 horses. 

"At the moment, I've only got five and they're all going good, but I'd probably want about 12 to survive.

“I'm 60 now, so in a few more years, then I'll retire and then I'll have more time to do more horses.”

Clem’s record in recent seasons suggests he can mix it with the best if he chooses to take the plunge into full-time training.

He has nine winners to his name this season while striking at 24%.

Over the past eight seasons, his strike-rate has only dipped under 20% on one occasion.

Despite juggling work and his horses in recent times, the hobby trainer says he makes it work with the support of his family and people he works with.

“My boss is really good,” Clem said.

“He gives me time off with the horses. 

"He's a horse person himself, so they've been really good to me, Bundaberg Sugar. Hard work never hurts anyone.”

Clem, who was a jockey before going into training, arrives with the in-form Corkscrew into Saturday’s rich BOTB decider at Eagle Farm.

The seven-year-old gelding has run in the top two in his last four outings, headlined by victories at Gladstone and Thangool.

Corkscrew has not been at the races since the middle of April and trialled at Rockhampton earlier this month to tune up for Saturday’s feature sprint over 1200 metres.

Originally trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) in Melbourne, Corkscrew won three of his first five starts as a three-year-old.

The son of Redwood was initially tested in black-type company for the Victorian barn before being sent north to the Sunshine State.

Corkscrew had not won since April of 2022 before he went on to score at Gladstone two starts back, which led him towards claiming a BOTB qualifier at Thangool.

After a few years in the wilderness, Clem has his sprinter back up and firing when it matters most.

With regular hoop Adam Spinks set to jump from barrier nine aboard Corkscrew, the Clem stable is primed for its maiden runner in the BOTB Final.

“We've had him for two years and he's a very quiet horse,” the trainer said.

“He's a gentleman of the stable.

“He's very well educated. He's been in Melbourne with Mick Price and he's seen more horses than I'll ever see.

“It's really good for us country people, series like the Battle of the Bush. For us to go down there and for that race for the country people, it is very good.

“I wish he drew a better barrier, but we've just got to go down now. We've come this far, we've got to go.”

Corkscrew is raced by the Martens family of Bundaberg – which includes Keith, Karen, Andrew and Paul – who purchased the galloper online.

They also own Moissanite, who Clem also prepares.

The long-time Bundaberg trainer said the Martens family are strong supporters of racing in the region and deserve their moment under the bright lights of a Queensland Racing Carnival program.

“To represent Bundaberg, for a country horse to go down there from here is very exciting,” Clem said. 

“The owners are all excited and everyone gets behind him. The Martens family purchased the horse and they get behind the 'Bundy' race club here.

“They love their racing. They can't wait to get down there for the race on Saturday.”

While Clem will break new ground this Saturday with a BOTB runner, his team have been prominent in the city in recent years.

The team has four metropolitan winners to its name, with retired galloper King Klaus a regular performer in South East Queensland during his career.

As well as his BOTB runner on Saturday, the Clem barn will also have two runners at Gladstone - Frosty Bear and Moissanite.