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Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 53095 Clarkens Cup Confidence Dented

Clarken's Cup confidence dented

Clarken's Cup confidence dented

A wide draw has dented Will Clarken’s confidence of winning Saturday’s $500,000 Cranbourne Cup with stable star Ironclad.

The talented yet injury-plagued import has won three Stakes races since making the shift to South Australia and caught the eye when finishing into third behind Old Flame in last week’s Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

While Clarken has little doubt the seven-year-old has improved since the first-up outing, he’s concerned about how much ground jockey Ethan Brown will have to concede from barrier 13 in the field of 15.

“I was praying that we drew barrier or five or six but we’ve drawn wide again – I can't seem to draw a gate wherever I am at the moment,” Clarken said.

“From there, it makes it a little bit hard from him because he’s going to have to concede ground and you don’t want to be spotting them too far at Cranbourne.

“He was terrific first-up and I’m sure he’s come on since then but to win the race he’s most likely going to have to run a career-best.

“He’s going as good as I’ve ever had him going so hopefully he can show that.”

WATCH: Ironclad’s eye-catching first-up run at Flemington.

Clarken said there are several options for Ironclad following Saturday’s race, including another interstate cameo or a let-up back in Adelaide.

“If he was to run super there’s The Gong, which would be a seven day back-up and up to Sydney or hypothetically, he could be on the same plane as Beau Rossa to Perth,” he said.

“He could run on Saturday, fly on Monday and run in one of those races in Perth.

“But it all depends on Saturday and he’s a horse that had a few ailments so maybe giving him a lighter preparation might work well.”

Ironclad is rated $11 in Sportsbet’s Cranbourne Cup market, while he’s a $21 chance in the Group 1 Railway Stakes in Perth later this month.

RELEVANT NEWS

Boognish Triumphs in Thrilling Proud Miss Stakes

An early Mother's Day gift for the pensioned Unbridled's Song (USA) mare Regrowth when her twelfth and final foal Boognish opened her stakes account in Saturday's Group III Sportsbet Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. Ridden by Jamie Kah for Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea, the daughter of Sooboog emerged from a pack of nine horses spread across the track to defeat Right To Party (Zoustar) by a neck with Grey River (Al Maher) a short-half-head back in third. Making her black-type debut, Boognish advances her record to three wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $195,410. "She deserved to get her black-type win, and it's come on a big day," Clarken said. "We stepped off her for a while after she didn't find the line over 1500 (metres), applied a huge amount of pressure this week and really screwed her down for today and it paid off. "I gave Jamie no instructions today, didn't know whether to chance her arm and try and get outside lead or let her balance up and I thought after a couple of hops she was going to go forward and then she got back in a beautiful rhythm, she's just worth so much. "Santo (Guagliardo) is in this horse and came down today. It's great to get a result, she's got a huge page. We bought her in Adelaide and she's taken a fair bit of time, but it's going to pay off. "She's huge, she just sort of got a bit of structural soreness when she was a young horse. We just couldn't get at her, and when Niki joined the team he rode her a lot. We really got her going and she actually won her first start at big odds, which is unlike the stable. Then she went missing for a little while, then we got her going again and we worked out what her trip is today." A $180,000 purchase for Will Clarken/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Jolly from the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Boognish is the 12th winner from as many to race for the dual Listed stakes-winner Regrowth and her second stakes winner after Colour, who won the Group III Breeders' Stakes here in 2009. Regrowth’s daughter Munhro (Lonhro) is the dam of Group II winner Derryn, and her daughter Maraam is the dam of the promising 2-year-old Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot).A half-sister to the dam of Forensics from the family of Snippets and Not A Single Doubt, Regrowth was pensioned in 2020. Her winning daughter Single Blonde is in the Element Hill Dispersal at the National Broodmare Sale, after being covered by Wootton Bassett (GB) Lot 964. Boognish is the second stakes-winner for the Snitzel stallion Sooboog, who stands the forthcoming season at Clear Mountain Fairview. Story from Breednet

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Stable to wait with Boognish

Boognish's Group 3 Sportsbet Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) win has convinced Will Clarken and Nikki O'Shea that she is a sprinter. The victory at Morphettville last Saturday was the stable's second at Stakes level during the Adelaide Carnival. "The mare was excellent in the Proud Miss and I think we have decided now that is her go, being kept to the sprint trips," said Clarken. "At this stage, we haven't worked out a game plan with her moving forward. "We will let the dust settle and have a good look at the facts and figures from that win on the weekend." Clarken and O'Shea's other G3 winner for the carnival came in The Hawkes with Extremely Lucky, who then lined up in the G1 Goodwood on Saturday but only beat one runner home as Benedetta prevailed. "It was all over for him in the first 100 metres through no fault of Jake's (Toeroek) when he started to race ungenerously and throw his head around," Clarked said. "This guy needs everything to pan out smoothly and cannot afford to make a mistake or two in his races. "His next run will be at Caulfield in an 1100-metre race on Saturday June 1. "A week later at Flemington there is a 2000-metre race for Silent Surrente, who was so good again on Saturday running second in the Centaurea Stakes. "She was stiff to bump into Danny's (O'Brien) mare Sea What I See and she is flying our girl with that being a third-consecutive black-type placing for her this prep." Clarken also provided an update on quality two-year-old filly Kuroyanagi, who hasn't been seen at the races since finishing third in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes behind Hayasugi and subsequent Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot. "She is back in pre-training at the farm at Sellicks Beach and the plan with her will be to run first-up in the Lightning Stakes at Morphettville on July 27," he said.Story from Racing.com

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Big step up for Extremely Lucky

Will Clarken says Extremely Lucky 'needs to find a few lengths' in Saturday's $1 million Group 1 Sportsbet Goodwood at Morphettville. But Clarken and Nikki O'Shea will saddle up the five-year-old son of Exreme Choice confident they have him in ideal shape "The prep has been perfect so far and he won The Hawkes first-up in good style," said Clarken. "It is a much-stronger race obviously on Saturday and we are aware he needs to find a few lengths. "He was looking for a bus late in The Hawkes though and we are confident he has derived plenty of benefit from that run. "We gave him a searching gallop at Murray Bridge on Monday with Jake (Toeroek) in the saddle and we are fortunate to have his services on Saturday." Clarken and O'Shea are set to saddle runners in three other black-type races on Saturday. "Second To Nun goes to The Cummings and her work on Monday was honestly the best she has ever worked," he said. "I know she has had a long campaign, but she continues to hold her form and her action has never been better. "Boognish will go to the Proud Miss and back to mares grade and gets Jamie (Kah), who won on her three starts ago on Adelaide Cup Day. "Jamie will also jump aboard Silent Surrente in the Centaurea Stakes and her two runs this prep have been stellar. "She is right at the top of her game this mare and going to 2000 metres is also a plus."Story from Racing.com

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Lucky in line for Goodwood honours

Training partners Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea will chase a hometown first when they saddle Extremely Lucky in The Goodwood at Morphettville. After starting his career in Adelaide, Extremely Lucky will be having his second run back for Clarken and O’Shea in Saturday’s Group 1 sprint over 1200m after a stint in Sydney with Chris Waller. Extremely Lucky won on debut for Clarken at Murray Bridge in December 2021, later on collecting the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville the following July and two starts later lined-up at Group 1 level. After finishing last in that contest behind Coolangatta at Moonee Valley, Extremely Lucky was transferred into the care of Waller, but went winless in six starts, and was returned to South Australia to continue his career. Clarken was emotional after Extremely Lucky scored a first-up win in the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 27. “He loved the horse always and when he got taken away from him, it was hard to swallow, so to get him back, and to get him back going well, it’s great,” O’Shea said. “That was a good race and the race itself means a lot.” O’Shea has been the co-trainer with Clarken for roughly 18 months and said Extremely Lucky was the best galloper in the stable. “He’s the most quality horse that we’ve had, I think,” O’Shea said. “He doesn’t have the best feet on him, so getting to the beach is good for him, but he has the potential to win something like this race one day.” O’Shea said it was not ideal to be heading into a race like The Goodwood with just the one run back following a break. The stable wanted to see how the sprinter came through his first-up run before a final decision was made on whether he starts. “Will’s happy with him and the extra 100 metres won’t be a problem for him, but it’s going to be a different kettle of fish, a hard race,” O’Shea said. “Ideally you wouldn’t be going into it second-up off a fresh-up run, but it’s hard not to have a go at it when it’s on your doorstep. “He’s a quality horse and he beat some of the horses that will be in the market, so I suppose you have to have some hope for him.”Story from Just Horse Racing

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Extremely Lucky claims inaugural running of John Hawkes Stakes

Extremely Lucky ($7.50) has broken through for his first win in nearly two years, as the five-year-old gelding recorded a nice victory on her return for the Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea stable in the inaugural running of the John Hawkes Stakes at Morphettville. After spending 12 months with Chris Waller in Sydney, the son of Extreme Choice returned to the South Australian trainers to take his place in the Adelaide Racing Carnival over the next few weeks, and the change of scenery has paid dividends instantly. Master Eight ($71.00) made sure the race was run at a breakneck tempo as he took off mid-race to lead by three lengths over Celsius Star ($21.00) and Sghirripa ($6.00) who settled behind the leader, and by the time they hit the top of the straight, those two took over to lead the field with 400m to go. However, it was easy to see that the swoopers were going to run over the top of them in the concluding stages as they launched down the outside with their runs. In a tight photo finish, Extremely Lucky just held on from a fast-finishing Sans Doute ($4.80), with What You Need ($4.60) and Grey River ($9.00) finishing in third and fourth place, respectively.Will Clarken was clearly emotional after the win of Extremely Lucky during his post-race interview. “He’s a horse that we spruiked and and our stable really believes in data and he’s the benchmark, the best horse we’ve trained in that sort of stuff, but has never got there,” Clarken said. “Whether he will is yet to come. This was a Listed race and it was the right circumstances. “There was good speed. Jamie rode him and I’ve been a believer that when you’re working with a horse and things aren’t going right, it’s very hard to correct at the time. “I got a bit of time when he went to Waller’s just to think about things that I would do differently. I corrected every mistake I made and I’m able to train the horse a lot better now. “He might have lost a bit of time there in his life for a life, but he’s back now well and we’ll give him a bit of time to see how he comes out of that. “Group 1 horses win Group 1’s. What he can do is quite astonishing and they have to do it race day. “We’re a long way from that, but he ticks a lot of boxes that a lot of horses can’t do. “It’s great to haves the Hawkes’ on course today. They’re a famous South Australian racing family and it’s great to see them back here.” Jamie Kah was also very happy with the win post-race. “It’s good to see him back. He was a very, very smart horse, but so much went wrong with him,” Kah said. “He was feeling the pinch near the line, but it was deserved. “At the 400 metres I thought he was really smoking and I thought he’d easily win. “He got to the 100 metres and had nearly had enough. Will told me he’d only had the one trial, but it’s good to win on him.”

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Extremely Lucky Wins G3 John Hawkes

It’s been a while between drinks for talented sprinter Extremely Lucky, but the five year-old son of Extreme Choice recaptured his best form at Morphettville on Saturday to win the Group III SAJC John Hawkes Stakes (1100m). Now back trained in South Australia by his original trainer Will Clarken in partnership with Niki O’Shea, Extremely Lucky was resuming from a spell after an unsuccessful stint in the Chris Waller stable last year. He produced a strong late burst for Jamie Kah and arrived on the lien to win by a head. "He's a horse that we spruiked and our stable really believes in data and he's the benchmark, the best horse we've trained in that sort of stuff, but has never got there. Whether he will is yet to come,” said Will Clarken. "This was a Listed race and it was the right circumstances. There was good speed. Jamie rode him and I've been a believer that when you're working with a horse and things aren't going right, it's very hard to correct at the time. "I got a bit of time when he went to Waller's just to think about things that I would do differently. I corrected every mistake I made and I'm able to train the horse a lot better now. He might have lost a bit of time there in his life for a life, but he's back now well and we'll give him a bit of time to see how he comes out of that.” Extremely Lucky was withdrawn by Mill Park from Inglis Premier to be sold privately and has now won four of 14 starts earning over $242,000. Bred by SA breeders Brenton and Liz Parker, Extremely Lucky is the best of four winners from Tamarind Lane, an unraced half-sister by Stratum to Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Zip Zip Array and Zipanese from the family of multiple Group I winners Niconero and Nicconi with Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Communist also on the page. Tamarind Lane has a weanling colt by Maurice (Jpn) and was covered last spring by Jacquinot. Extremely Lucky is the fourth stakes-winner this season for Extreme Choice, who heads the Newgate Farm roster at a fee of $275,000.Story from Breednet

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ICYMI - Galaxy Patch runs a smashing second in the Hong Kong Derby

A $50,000 Adelaide Magic Million purchase by Will Clarken, Suman Hedge Bloodstock and David Jolly the son of Wandjina was purchased with Hong Kong in mind. After winning impressively on debut at Morphettville, Hong Kong was on the radar. Instantly the gelding made his presence felt in Hong Kong winning on debut he then went on to win three further races following an unplaced run on the all weather track. Going into the Hong Kong Derby he was second at Group One level against California Spangle. The step up to 2000 metres was a question mark having previously only ran over the sprint trips. From the big raw lad we purchased at the Adelaide Magic Millions in 2021 it is such a pleasure to see the vision we had almost become a reality on international shores. Galaxy Patch became the second horse selected at the Adelaide Magic Millions by Will to reach the Hong Kong Derby after Prawn Baba a $20,000 purchase placed seventh in 2017.

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Kuroyanagi's spring goals

South Australian filly Kuroyanagi will spell in Victoria after a terrific run to finish third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, with her trainers already looking ahead to further elite-level targets in the spring. Niki O'Shea, who co-trains with Will Clarken, said the filly could head towards Guineas options later this year, having shown a great deal of raw talent in just her first racing preparation. "It was great, she was fantastic," O'Shea said. "When she came off the bit early, I thought we were in big trouble, so I was just happy that she did what she did. "On Sunday morning you wouldn't have known she'd had a run. She's actually going to stay there, she's gone to the paddock at one of those nice places down at Mornington." Clarken and O'Shea were not sure where Kuroyanagi would get to in her first preparation, with the view the $390,000 Written Tycoon filly will be a superior three-year-old galloper. "We've hardly trained her really, she's just done it under her own steam, we nearly put her in the paddock three or four times and she just kept pointing us in the right direction," O'Shea said. "He (Brenton Avdulla) said she was just green, ran off the corner and ran around the place, she's still six months away. He said she might even be a Guineas-type of horse, she's got the big action and she'll only keep improving."Story from Racing.com Tim Yeatman

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Clarken ‘blown away' by his Blue Diamond filly

Blue Diamond contender Kuroyanagi is doing things Will Clarken has never seen before. The Group 1-winning trainer is astounded by the physical development of the talented filly and her appetite for work, confident she's going to run a big race in Saturday's $2m feature at Caulfield. Clarken has been open about the fact he's been searching for an excuse to tip Kuroyanagi out, convinced she's going to be even better as a three-year-old, but she's just thriving. "It's amazing. Me and (co-trainer) Niki (O'Shea) are just blown away by what she's done," Clarken said. "I could send people a video of her first gallop this prep and you'd just think it was a different horse. The way she's improved and the way she can handle pressure in a preparation is phenomenal. "I've never had a juvenile who has strengthened and developed in work. Week-to-week she's getting bigger and stronger and more durable. She's a ferocious doer and nothing fazes her. "I haven't dealt with a lot of really good young horses like this but she's just obviously got a great constitution." Kuroyanagi first came to prominence in early January when superstar jockey Jamie Kah made a rare visit home to South Australia to ride her to a dominant victory in a jumpout at Murray Bridge. She went on to win her debut in soft fashion at Gawler before an agonising second across the border in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies earlier this month. "She's just come home and thrived. I haven't had one travel back and handle it so well for a long time," Clarken said. "That was our main concern as it was the first trip away for a young horse but she's put on weight, she's really above herself and he work has been terrific – we've been able to get two good gallops into her." With Kah and Blake Shinn, who partnered Kuroyanagi in the Prelude, opting to go elsewhere, Clarken was left searching for a suitable rider and he was watching a recent Sha Tin meeting when it hit him that Brenton Avdulla would be perfect. "I like to keep an eye on Hong Kong racing because we've got a small pool of horses over there now and he's riding so well," he said. "I was going through options, I asked a couple of Sydney guys and they had rides up there, so I said to (racing manager) Lachie (Weekley) ‘why don't you ask (Avdulla)'? "We watched him ride a double at the Chinese New Year meeting and I thought ‘imagine getting him on, it'd be awesome'." Kuroyanagi is rated an $18 hope with the TAB and Clarken thinks that presents good value. "The gate (two) to me is not ideal, I would've liked to have drawn out a little bit, but we've got the gun riding her, so that will help," he said "If she gets a little luck in running, I think she's a genuine each-way chance. "It's hard to say that going into big Group 1s but she has trained on remarkably well."

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SA filly ready to take next step

Eleven years after Miracles Of Life saluted in the Blue Diamond Stakes for trainer Dan Clarken, his cousin Will Clarken will be hoping to deliver a Group 1 to South Australia with talented filly Kuroyanagi. The $390,000 Written Tycoon filly was brilliant when a narrow runner-up to Hayasugi in the fillies' division of the Blue Diamond Prelude and Clarken believes his runner, who he trains in partnership with Niki O'Shea, can take the next step at what will be just her third start. "I think there is a fair bit of improvement in her … really her first start was a three-horse field at Gawler where she won on debut, she looks like she's really bounced out of it, I've been surprised how well she's come through it (Prelude)," Clarken said. "Her work was tremendous this morning and I'm sure that she can make the right steps forward, but obviously she'd have to."Kuroyanagi has drawn barrier two and will get the services of jockey Brenton Avdulla, who is currently based in Hong Kong and will fly in for the G1 ride. "She's drawn low, which is a lovely gate for her, so good to have Brenton (Avdulla) coming back to Aus to ride her for us," Clarken said. "There's a solid line-up with some exciting colts in the race, hopefully from the soft draw and a good, solid run the other day, she can find a couple of lengths that she needs to. "There will be a few unknowns in the race, but the way that she finishes off her work, I think she's been crying out for it, she takes a little while to sort of change gears and she can lose her action a bit at top speed. "I'm sure that she'll be just behind the speed, I reckon she will run a solid six (furlongs) out no worries at all."Story from Racing.com

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Avdulla booked for Blue Diamond contender

Star Hong Kong-based jockey Brenton Avdulla will make a flying return to Australia to ride boom South Australian filly Kuroyanagi in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. The Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea-trained two-year-old made waves last month when Jamie Kah returned to her home state of SA to partner her in a dominant jumpout win, before going on to salute under Ben Price on debut at Gawler. Last week Kuroyanagi was beaten a pimple in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies with Blake Shinn in the saddle but connections have now snapped up Avdulla for Saturday week's feature.The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced the booking on Friday, giving Avdulla permission to make the quick trip while also confirming he will return to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday, February 25. Clarken has a big opinion of Kuroyanagi, who is rated a $17 chance for the Blue Diamond, and expects her to be even better as a three-year-old. "There's a lot to come with her, she's not a little horse that's fully matured that you really want to get to now, she's got a big future ahead of her," he said. Story from Racenet (Tom Biddington)

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