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Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 56439 Amelias Jewel Form To The Fore In Balaklava Cup

Amelia's Jewel form to the fore in Balaklava Cup

Amelia's Jewel form to the fore in Balaklava Cup

Eleven years after winning the Balaklava Cup at his only previous attempt, Victorian jockey Brad Rawiller completed another successful cross-border raid as Ironclad wound back the clock and took full advantage of the track bias to snare the Listed event on Wednesday.

The Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea-trained veteran defied the topweight of 60kg to lead from barrier to box in the 1600m event, making the most of the track conditions that favoured those horses on pace and near the rail.

While Ironclad's best was clearly better than any of his rivals – none of the others boast a Group 1 second to Amelia's Jewel – he had struggled to rediscover his top form after two big runs in Perth late last year.

In a last-ditch effort, connections turned to Rawiller – the man who was aboard for those efforts in Western Australia – to change things up and it worked wonders with the $14 chance securing his ninth career win and taking his prizemoney haul beyond $800,000.

"I was here for a horse called Bagman (in 2012), he won, and I actually got a limo home, so I was happy enough to come back," Rawiller said.

"As much as he wasn't expected (to win) on his current form, (on) his couple of runs for me in Perth, if be brought any of that form here, he'd be winning.

"We had to work to hold the lead but at the same time when we did get it, he got a nice little sectional and a half mid-run and then his strength was making them chase, so I scooted on him … and he was able to hold on.

"It's great to get the job done and, with the big weight, it was well deserved."

It was a second straight Balaklava Cup success for Clarken, who prevailed last year with Nonamelane, and he was full of praise for stable jockey Todd Pannell, who was on board for Ironclad's first two disappointing runs of the campaign and recommended the jockey switch.

"When he goes bad, he just goes legless," Clarken said.

"In fairness to Todd Pannell, he's got it in his head that the horse doesn't go for him, so he didn't want to ride him today, he said get Brad over to ride him.

"That's what a team is about. We all play out part. Brad knows the horse and obviously everything fell in place.

"We drew the right gate, got the right run and we've won the race."

Story from Racenet (Tom Biddington)

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