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Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 58872 Kuros Low Key Return

Kuro's low-key return

Kuro's low-key return

A home-state, black-type win is the immediate aim for South Australia's most-exciting young horse Kuroyanagi, but Will Clarken admits it's hard not to dream about spring features in both Melbourne and Sydney.

The Blue Diamond placegetter made a low-key return to the track in a 600-metre jump out at Thomas Farms Racecourse Murray Bridge on Thursday, pleasing both her trainer and jockey Ben Price.

Clarken said the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville later this month shapes as the perfect kick-off race and a suitable chance for the filly to secure a Stakes win, after her Group 1 and Group 2 placings over summer.

"All being well, we'll get a good trial into her at Balaklava in seven days' time and then a nice gallop on some Good ground, we'll look to kick her off in the Lightning," Clarken said.

"It'll come down to her first-up performance but races in both Melbourne and Sydney are definitely there as options.

"It was such a vintage year of juveniles, so we'll just have to pick our way through and dodge a few of them.

"We just want to get a black-type win next to her name, so we'll just chase little fish to start and build into it.

"But we cant hide our excitement about her."

During her first racing campaign, Clarken maintained that the daughter of Written Tycoon was far from the finished product and he said he's satisfied with the physical development she's made since the Blue Diamond.

And while her early targets are likely to be in the 1000-1200-metre range, he's excited at the prospect of stretching her out in trip.

"She's got a lot stronger in her time off," he said.

"We did the right thing by stopping after the Diamond, so she got a really good spell into her.

"Skeletally, everything has settled down because she was just feeling her shins off and on last prep.

"I'd love to see her rolling over seven furlongs because I just think she's got this amazing action.

"Brenton (Avdulla) gave us some amazing feedback that she felt like a horse that would get further after he rode her in the Diamond."

Story from Racing.com (James Tzaferis)

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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

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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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