Take Fire had been up and down the weights scale in recent starts, mixing rating 75 assignments with open handicaps.
Ascot Park trainer Jo-Anne Dalton picked out yesterday's race as one which could suit the 5yr-old, and her plan was on the mark.
The Pentire mare saw out the trip in style to claim her fourth win, carrying 54kg.
Take Fire was sent south by breeders Brendan and Jo Lindsay and leased out to the Lindsays' friends, Alan and Kerry Harper, of Queenstown. They placed the mare with Dalton and brought Tom and Julie Kilkelly into the ownership.
The mare won twice last autumn before being spelled, then copped the varied weights on her return.
''That's why I wanted to run her today - she got a bit of weight off her back. She's been getting a bit of weight and she's only a little thing. That's why I ran her today to see where she ended up.''
Take Fire is Dalton's first win in the Clare Memorial Gold Cup which was run over 2000m this year, although her sister, Andrea Dryden, trained Ginger Top to win the corresponding race - the 2000m open handicap - at the 2000 New Year meeting.
There was also a historical link with Take Fire's connections. Alan and Kerry Harper and Tom Kilkelly shared in the ownership of Tasset,winner of the 2000 open handicap at Omakau in 1996.
Take Fire could have a crack at the Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui on February 6, Dalton said.
● The winner of the $25,000 Summer Plate will also be looking for a staying trip, his co-trainer says.
Full Count has made his mark since arriving at Nikki and Barrie Blatch's Tapanui stables last year, winning at Riccarton in the spring before grabbing yesterday's 1400m feature.
Barrie Blatch, who also shares in the ownership, said the son of Shamardal was ‘‘better than average''.
‘‘We're going to try him over 2000m, because he settles. To be fair, we might even be forced in to that with what's coming up.''
Full Count's stablemate, Sureasyouwereborn, is in fine fettle after her third in the Otago Cup at Wingatui on Boxing Day.
The staying mare will leave Tapanui for Trentham on Sunday, with the $70,000 Trentham Stakes on January 16 her last run before the $200,000 Wellington Cup a week later.
‘‘The trip will finish her off,'' Blatch said.
Samantha Wynne rode both Take Fire and Full Count to victory, opting to stay closer to the rails than most of her rivals.
