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Trial wrap: Quality on show as spring prep ramps up

3 minute read

David Jolly’s quest for a fourth successive early season Adelaide feature, in the race formerly known as the Spring Stakes, ramped up at the Morphettville trials with the return of last year’s winner Calypso Reign on Friday.

DAVID JOLLY.
DAVID JOLLY. Picture: Racing Photos.

David Jolly has won the past three features that now carries the name of his former stable star Behemoth- who won the feature in 2020 and 2021 - before Calypso Reign upstaged his high-class stablemate to claim last year's race.

This year's $150,000 Group 3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) looks set to be loaded with SA horses with spring aspirations.

Richard and Chantelle Jolly's classy mare See You In Heaven is also likely to kick off in the feature after winning the Open Trial smartly ahead of Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea's Group 1 placed Ironclad with other well performed horses Rich Gina and Chicago Storm also trialling nicely.

Clarken said he's looking forward to seeing what Ironclad, who finished second behind superstar West Australian mare Amelia's Jewel in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes at Ascot back in December, can do as an eight-year-old.

"He's an older horse now but he's come back in really good order,'' Clarken said.

"You could see that in the trial, he wanted to put himself there in the trial and was good through the line behind alongside a good mare (See You In Heaven).

"He'll run first-up in the Spring (Behemoth) Stakes, we'll either go to Melbourne after that or he could run in the Leon Macdonald Stakes over the 1400m,'' he said.

It was a memorable day at Morphettville for a number of apprentice jockeys who had their first trial rides following their official induction into the Racing SA Apprentice Academy on Thursday.

Brooke King jumping out aboard Somewatt Fabulous in the Open Trial, Polly Brewster running second in her first trial on My Maloo with Sophie Mitchell in the same trial while Monika Wolanin had three trial rides for boss Darryl Carrison.


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