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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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More Murray Bridge joy for Crowther

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Keeping it in the family

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‘Quality’ So You Think colt heads to Clarken and O’Shea

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Peltzer's brother turns heads

Peltzer's brother will stay in South Australia and be trained by Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea after being bought for $240,000 in the opening session of Monday's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Offered as part of leading SA nursery Mill Park Stud's draft, the colt (Lot 25) was on the shortlist of several good judges but was ultimately knocked down to Clarken's Racing Manager Lachie Weekley on behalf of the stable, owner Rob Chapman and bloodstock agent Suman Hedge. As well as leaving multiple Stakes winner and now young stallion Peltzer, who was purchased for $260,000 as a yearling, the colt's dam Miss Otto has also left Stakes-placed filly Madison Kate. Weekley said the stable targeted the colt and was buoyed by the record of Mill Park Stud, the property on SA's Limestone Coast which has bred or raised more than 20 Group 1 winners. "He's a beautiful colt, just a lovely, well-balanced horse," Weekley said. "He has a lovely So You Think head on him and he looks to have a lot of class. "You'd like to think he'd be that sort of miler type O like. "We tend not to rush our young horses, it's cliche to say but we'll give him plenty of time. "Mill Park Stud is such a fantastic nursery, Chris Watson and the team down there do such a good job and the stats are just phenomenal. "They've nearly got the alphabet of Stakes winners, which speaks for itself." Story by James Tzaferis from Racing.com

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Adelaide Cup Day summary: Milnes rates Silent Surrente to perfection in The Cup

Front running masterclass - gives Silent Surrente success in The Cup A brilliant piece of front-running riding by apprentice Rochelle Milnes enabled Silent Surrente to out-tough her opposition in the 2025 G2 Adelaide Cup for trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea. The daughter of Melbourne Cup-winning Fiorente (Ire) outstayed her rivals as Milnes took control of the race after being caught wide early on. She sustained a strong gallop, kicked away at the top of the straight and the result was never in doubt, claiming a 1.2l victory, with Newfoundland (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Grand Pierro (Pierro) filling the placings behind. “Your hometown cup obviously means a lot doesn't it?,” co-trainer Will Clarken said. “I pride myself on my modesty, my name is in the book but Niki really trains this horse – he's done a wonderful job. From the time she's got to the stable he's nurtured her, rides her all her work, it's obviously a team effort, we work hard together. Full credit to him, he's a brilliant horseman.” Silent Surrente’s dam, Silent Surround (Face Value), was a Group 3 winner on the track and has now produced three individual stakes winners, with Silent Surrente joining Listed winner Silent Command (Commands) and Silent Sovereign (Dalakhani {Ire}). Rochelle Milnes | Image courtesy of Racing SA This win is also great timing for Sledmere Stud, who offer Lot 165, a half-brother by Stay Inside, at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he is sure to be well-sought after. Silent Surround, since producing the Stay Inside colt heading to the sales, has had a regular date with Stay Inside, leaving a full sister last spring and being served the promising young sire last spring also. Story from TTR AusNZ

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Surrente stars in Adelaide Cup

Silent Surrente has given star apprentice jockey Rochelle Milnes the biggest win of her career, winning the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) for local trainers Will Clarken & Niki O'Shea at Morphettville on Monday. Milnes was initially caught wide aboard the $10 chance but kept the six-year-old mare in a good rhythm and eventually took her to the front, finding plenty in the straight to shake off initial leader Newfoundland ($6.50), who held on for second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths with $16 chance Grand Pierro a further length away in third. The 22-year-old apprentice, who was awarded Dux of the Racing SA Apprentice Academy earlier this year, said she was lost for words after her first ride, and win, in a black-type race. "I'm a bit at a loss of words, to be honest," Milnes said. "I'm absolutely run ragged, and for the support, this team has just been incredible with my career. I can't thank them enough. I'm a bit breathless, but I really just don't have the words to describe how thankful I am for this crew to be behind me." "They're amazing people, and this horse has just come into this race so well. I'm so proud of her." It was a first Adelaide cup win for the Clarken & O'Shea yard, and Will Clarken said the credit has to go to his training partner Niki O'Shea for the work he does with Silent Surrente. "Hometown Cup obviously means a lot, doesn't it," Clarken said. "I pride myself on my modesty. My name's in the book, but Niki really trains this horse." "He's just done a wonderful job from the time he got to the stable. He sort of nurtures, he rides all their own work. He's just done a wonderful job, it's obviously a team effort. We work hard together, but full kudos to him. He's a brilliant horseman." Clarken also sang the praises of Milnes, who he quickly identified as a talented jockey on the rise. "I know this sounds silly, but I don't think she was ever going to get beat. She just got in a beautiful rhythm," Clarken said. "I've spruiked her (Milnes) before she had her first race ride, but her skills are silky smooth. She's a really good rider. She works with us really hard, it's just great." Story from RSN

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