Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 53096 Clarkens Toorak Throw At The Stumps

Will Clarken is under no illusions Saturday's Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield is the biggest test of stable star Noname Lane's career, but the leading Adelaide-based horseman is more than willing to chance his arm.

"It is a throw at the stumps, but the horse can't be going any better and Linda (Meech) thought the horse could go on with it,” Clarken said.

A $31 Toorak shot with Sportsbet, the six-year-old brought up three wins in a row, two of them at Listed level, when taking out the $200,000 Seymour Cup last Sunday at Bendigo, and Clarken says he won't change a winning formula heading into the $1 million feature.

"He's drawn a lovely suck gate (barrier three), it looks like he'll get a lovely run in the race, like I said it's worth a shot," Clarken said.

"He puts himself on the speed, which is such an advantage, he's also such a trier which always helps, he loves that mile, he loves going at good tempo, and he's got no weight.

"She's (Meech) had two rides on him, one wasn't her best ride at Caulfield, he went average that day anyway, but she now knows him after her absolute peach on him last start, and she is such a good rider on those front-running horses, good rider on anything, but especially those on speed.

"He needs to improve two or three lengths to be in the finish, but it's the six-day back-up, hardened fit."

Noname Lane has spent a few days down at Warrnambool since leading all the way to win the Seymour Cup and won't be the only Clarken runner to grace Caulfield on Saturday, with stablemate Second Slip returning in the Listed Village Stakes (1200m).

"He's first-up, he's going to have to go as good as he ever has, which is hard to do first-up, he's got a rating now where he needs to do this," Clarken said.

"He has come up perfectly, Ben Price takes the ride, he's ridden him all his preparation and said he's going beautifully, again he's drawn a lovely gate."

Second Slip is a $19 chance with Sportsbet.