3 minute read
Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea can build on an imposing record at Gawler on Saturday.
In the last 12 months the stable has trained 10 winners from 36 runners at the Gawler and Barossa Jockey Club and the current leaders in the Metropolitan Trainer's Premiership will saddle up the first three favourites on the nine race card.
Exciting two-year-old Kuroyanagi kicks off their day as a short-priced favourite on the back of an impressive jump-out where Jamie Kah made the trip to ride, before winning a Murray Bridge trial on Monday with Ben Price in the saddle.
Will Clarken said the filly possessed enormous ability and said staying at home and running at Gawler was the right move in preference to debuting in Melbourne next week.
"She's not the finished product,'' Clarken said.
"I think the option of giving her one run at home is the right one. If she turns up like she trialled she'll be hard to beat,'' he said.
Cullen Skink will chase a fourth win in succession for the stable and Clarken said getting beyond 2000m for the first time shouldn't be an issue.
"I'm really happy with him,'' Clarken said of Cullen Skink.
"His work was good on Tuesday, he's coming of age and I think there is a bit up his sleeve.
"I like the trip for him and the other day he wanted to have a good look around when he hit the front so there is no doubt there is more there,'' he said.
Second To Nun will try and make it three wins from as many starts since liking with talented apprentice Rochelle Milnes who has been able to unlock the key to the mare.
"She's got talent,'' Clarken said.
"She was over racing and doing things wrong. We closed our eyes at Murray Bridge going up in trip, but she was able to get into a nice rhythm for Rochelle - she seems to travel well for her,'' he said.
It's been a solid start to the season for the stable, their 19 city winners already well past the 13 they produced last season and Clarken said they were hoping to build on that heading towards the Adelaide Racing Carnival
"We've got the horses going well,'' Clarken said.
"We've weeded out the horses who weren't up to Saturday grade, we had a nice group of trailers there at Murray Bridge on Monday and hopefully the stable can continue going along like it has been,'' he said.
