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Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 53088 Clarken New Recipe For Ironclad

Clarken: New 'recipe' for Ironclad

Clarken: New 'recipe' for Ironclad

Will Clarken has gone back to the drawing board to hopefully produce an improved performance from Ironclad in Saturday's Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot.

The seven-year-old was well below his best when 12th in the G1 Railway Stakes over the mile, nearly six lengths behind winner Trix Of The Trade, but Clarken says there were genuine excuses.

"A bit disappointed with that run, he really showed the effects of the travel in the run, he raced a bit flat, saddled up flat then raced flat," Clarken said.

"In the days afterwards, he picked up straight away, he looks a lot brighter.

"Still, he needs to improve astronomically out of that to be in the finish of this race."

To find that improvement, Clarken has mixed up the training regime of Ironclad, who has also travelled to Melbourne twice this preparation, and believes the horse is responding.

"We've been utilising the facilities, doing some heavy sand training and he looks like he's really thriving on that, hopefully that can be the key to get him to find what he needs to find," Clarken said.

"We're going to do a few things and change the recipe so he can find what he needs to find."

Brad Rawiller has been booked to ride Ironclad, who has drawn wide in barrier 11 for Saturday's feature.

"Brad's a really strong rider, which the horse responds to, I'm sure he'll ride him well," Clarken said.

"I don't actually mind the gate for him, you look at Ascot on TV and it looks a bit different to how it profiles, you want to be rolling into it, you don't want to be getting held up too much.

"We're going to try and go a bit further forward, we're definitely not going to be letting the horse balance up as we have been because it's most probably D-Day of the preparation."

While underwhelmed with Ironclad's first Perth run, Clarken couldn't have been happier with the performance of stable star Beau Rossa in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

"I thought he was terrific last Saturday, I don't know how closer he could've finished but I definitely argue he would've finished closer had he been able to get to the outside of them," Clarken said.

"He's stepping up to 1400m in The Gold Rush and I'm comfortable he's finishing his races off, we'll most probably ride him a little bit closer.

"Todd (Pannell) is keen to get up there and ride him again, it looks a nice race for him."

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Kuroyanagi back to Caulfield

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Kuroyanagi 'could be anything'

One of the finds of the autumn returns to the races this weekend with endless possibilities ahead of a spring campaign. South Australian filly Kuroyanagi was somewhat of a surprise packet rocketing into Blue Diamond calculations after a scintillating jump out at Murray Bridge and eventually ran third in the two-year-old classic behind winner Hayasugi and runner-up Lady Of Camelot who would go on to win the Golden Slipper. Those form lines have trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea brimming from ear to ear as spring nears. “She’s the most exciting horse we have, she could be absolutely anything,” O’Shea said. “It’s great to have her back, we’re delighted with the way she’s been going, hopefully we can kick off her preparation on the right note.” The $390,000 daughter of Written Tycoon resumes in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) for two and three-year-old gallopers at Morphettville this Saturday off a trial at Balaklava which featured talented open class horses. “She was in pretty good company that day and she’s worked well since then so she’s on the right track,” O’Shea said. “It would be great to win but obviously it’s hard against the older horses, first up, and on presumably testing ground.” When looking ahead at the spring calendar, O’Shea says there are many races suitable for Kuroyanagi, but one thing needs to be determined first. “I don’t really think anyone knows what her best trip is yet,” O’Shea said. “You’d assume she gets 1400m no worries but the way her action is you’d say she could be a Guineas filly, but then she’s also got a lot of speed so she might not want that far. “That’s something we’ll have to figure out or let us tell her, so we won’t be making any firm plans.” Kuroyanagi is an $8 chance to win the Thousand Guineas in November with Sportsbet. Clarken and O’Shea also have Hajra and Desert Dancing nominated for the Lightning Stakes.

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Kuro's low-key return

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