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The expansion of the Will Clarken stable will see the leading trainer enter a training partnership in 2023.

Will Clarken announced on Thursday night that Irish-born former jumps jockey Niki O'Shea will would be joining the stable as a full-time second trainer to help oversee his growing operation.

"It's taken some time to undertake the critical process of identifying a trainer with the vision, approach and credentials I believe I could work successfully with,'' Clarken said in a statement.

"Niki's tactical perspective as a skilled jockey, his years of experience working with the best in Irish, British and Australian racing industries, and his family tradition in elite equine sports, gives him a unique advantage as a trainer,'' he said.

Clarken said O'Shea would take over the helm on course at Morphettville as well play a key role in the development of their new stables at Murray Bridge in 2023 allowing Clarken to focus on the establishment of his Sellicks Hill facility.

"I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Sellicks Hill but it's still in it's infancy, and that's where my focus will remain for some time,'' Clarken said.

"My professional goal is to extend and broaden my experience in training racehorses and to continue to improve out training techniques.

"Given the size of Clarken Racing operations, working with a co-trainer will allow us to travel to learn more about innovations in training techniques to improve the performances of horses in the Clarken Racing stable,'' he said.

Clarken Racing's immediate focus will be with Beau Rossa in Saturday's $1.5m Group 3 Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot in Perth.

Todd Pannell makes the trip west to ride Beau Rossa who will be hoping to go one better than stablemate Ironclad who finished second in last weekend's Northerly Stakes.

Locally they have two runners in the $107,250 Listed Christmas Handicap (1200m) with He's A Balter and Second Slip.