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Clarken Racing | Clarken Racing News 55985 In Form Stable Set To Strike With Jean Valjean

In-form stable set to strike with Jean Valjean

In-form stable set to strike with Jean Valjean

The Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea stable has struck form in the past month and is hoping to parlay it into a Flemington victory with the exciting Jean Valjean.

The talented six-year-old made a mess of his rivals first-up at Morphettville Parks, defying the track pattern on the day to storm home from the back and salute in impressive fashion.

The manner of that performance prompted a trip over the border with Jean Valjean looking to go one better than an eye-catching second at The Valley in January in his only other race in Melbourne.

Stable apprentice Ben Price is also set to make his Flemington debut.

Jean Valjean is rated a $5 chance in the opening race with the TAB, the second-elect behind the Peter Moody and Kathryn Coleman-prepared River Noire ($2.80).

"I think he's going well. He went super first-up, I wish there was a bit more give in the ground over there but he's drawn beautifully," Clarken said.

"It looks like (Smile And Wave) will roll along and it's a good chance for Ben to go and have a ride over there.

"I think the straight will really suit him. Big tracks are his go."

It has been a year of evolution for the stable with Clarken and O'Shea officially joining forces in January while this week they moved 30 horses into their brand new Murray Bridge yard – with another 10 to join them next week.

But after snaring five metro winners from the past four meetings, and finishing second, third and fourth in last week's Listed Lightning Stakes, things are looking up.

"It's much better. We flushed out a lot of the older horses that had hit their rating mark and were holding up the show," Clarken said.

Story by Tom Biddington

"We've got a really good team of young horses coming through. We've got a big set of jumpouts at Murray Bridge on Monday and we're getting a bit of a flow on.

"There might be a few teething issues now that we've got Murray Bridge online – we've got to find the lay of the land – but I think the back-end of this season and into the next couple of seasons to come, we should be a force to be reckoned with."

Clarken will saddle up five horses at Murray Bridge on Saturday and suggests the debutant Grint is the best of his chances.

"I think Grint has improved a lot since his trial and I think there might be a couple that are vulnerable in that race and he'll be strong late," he said of the $5 hope.

Meanwhile, stable star Ironclad – who finished second to Amelia's Jewel in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes in December – is set to resume in next weekend's Group 3 Behemoth Stakes.

"He trialled really well (on Friday) morning – I'm really happy with him," Clarken said.

"He'll go to the Behemoth and then the Leon Macdonald Stakes and then there are plenty of options in Melbourne and we may even look taking him for a few runs in Sydney this time in, given he gets through the going."

RELEVANT NEWS

Extremely Lucky claims inaugural running of John Hawkes Stakes

Extremely Lucky ($7.50) has broken through for his first win in nearly two years, as the five-year-old gelding recorded a nice victory on her return for the Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea stable in the inaugural running of the John Hawkes Stakes at Morphettville. After spending 12 months with Chris Waller in Sydney, the son of Extreme Choice returned to the South Australian trainers to take his place in the Adelaide Racing Carnival over the next few weeks, and the change of scenery has paid dividends instantly. Master Eight ($71.00) made sure the race was run at a breakneck tempo as he took off mid-race to lead by three lengths over Celsius Star ($21.00) and Sghirripa ($6.00) who settled behind the leader, and by the time they hit the top of the straight, those two took over to lead the field with 400m to go. However, it was easy to see that the swoopers were going to run over the top of them in the concluding stages as they launched down the outside with their runs. In a tight photo finish, Extremely Lucky just held on from a fast-finishing Sans Doute ($4.80), with What You Need ($4.60) and Grey River ($9.00) finishing in third and fourth place, respectively.Will Clarken was clearly emotional after the win of Extremely Lucky during his post-race interview. “He’s a horse that we spruiked and and our stable really believes in data and he’s the benchmark, the best horse we’ve trained in that sort of stuff, but has never got there,” Clarken said. “Whether he will is yet to come. This was a Listed race and it was the right circumstances. “There was good speed. Jamie rode him and I’ve been a believer that when you’re working with a horse and things aren’t going right, it’s very hard to correct at the time. “I got a bit of time when he went to Waller’s just to think about things that I would do differently. I corrected every mistake I made and I’m able to train the horse a lot better now. “He might have lost a bit of time there in his life for a life, but he’s back now well and we’ll give him a bit of time to see how he comes out of that. “Group 1 horses win Group 1’s. What he can do is quite astonishing and they have to do it race day. “We’re a long way from that, but he ticks a lot of boxes that a lot of horses can’t do. “It’s great to haves the Hawkes’ on course today. They’re a famous South Australian racing family and it’s great to see them back here.” Jamie Kah was also very happy with the win post-race. “It’s good to see him back. He was a very, very smart horse, but so much went wrong with him,” Kah said. “He was feeling the pinch near the line, but it was deserved. “At the 400 metres I thought he was really smoking and I thought he’d easily win. “He got to the 100 metres and had nearly had enough. Will told me he’d only had the one trial, but it’s good to win on him.”

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Extremely Lucky Wins G3 John Hawkes

It’s been a while between drinks for talented sprinter Extremely Lucky, but the five year-old son of Extreme Choice recaptured his best form at Morphettville on Saturday to win the Group III SAJC John Hawkes Stakes (1100m). Now back trained in South Australia by his original trainer Will Clarken in partnership with Niki O’Shea, Extremely Lucky was resuming from a spell after an unsuccessful stint in the Chris Waller stable last year. He produced a strong late burst for Jamie Kah and arrived on the lien to win by a head. "He's a horse that we spruiked and our stable really believes in data and he's the benchmark, the best horse we've trained in that sort of stuff, but has never got there. Whether he will is yet to come,” said Will Clarken. "This was a Listed race and it was the right circumstances. There was good speed. Jamie rode him and I've been a believer that when you're working with a horse and things aren't going right, it's very hard to correct at the time. "I got a bit of time when he went to Waller's just to think about things that I would do differently. I corrected every mistake I made and I'm able to train the horse a lot better now. He might have lost a bit of time there in his life for a life, but he's back now well and we'll give him a bit of time to see how he comes out of that.” Extremely Lucky was withdrawn by Mill Park from Inglis Premier to be sold privately and has now won four of 14 starts earning over $242,000. Bred by SA breeders Brenton and Liz Parker, Extremely Lucky is the best of four winners from Tamarind Lane, an unraced half-sister by Stratum to Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Zip Zip Array and Zipanese from the family of multiple Group I winners Niconero and Nicconi with Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Communist also on the page. Tamarind Lane has a weanling colt by Maurice (Jpn) and was covered last spring by Jacquinot. Extremely Lucky is the fourth stakes-winner this season for Extreme Choice, who heads the Newgate Farm roster at a fee of $275,000.Story from Breednet

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ICYMI - Galaxy Patch runs a smashing second in the Hong Kong Derby

A $50,000 Adelaide Magic Million purchase by Will Clarken, Suman Hedge Bloodstock and David Jolly the son of Wandjina was purchased with Hong Kong in mind. After winning impressively on debut at Morphettville, Hong Kong was on the radar. Instantly the gelding made his presence felt in Hong Kong winning on debut he then went on to win three further races following an unplaced run on the all weather track. Going into the Hong Kong Derby he was second at Group One level against California Spangle. The step up to 2000 metres was a question mark having previously only ran over the sprint trips. From the big raw lad we purchased at the Adelaide Magic Millions in 2021 it is such a pleasure to see the vision we had almost become a reality on international shores. Galaxy Patch became the second horse selected at the Adelaide Magic Millions by Will to reach the Hong Kong Derby after Prawn Baba a $20,000 purchase placed seventh in 2017.

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Kuroyanagi's spring goals

South Australian filly Kuroyanagi will spell in Victoria after a terrific run to finish third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, with her trainers already looking ahead to further elite-level targets in the spring. Niki O'Shea, who co-trains with Will Clarken, said the filly could head towards Guineas options later this year, having shown a great deal of raw talent in just her first racing preparation. "It was great, she was fantastic," O'Shea said. "When she came off the bit early, I thought we were in big trouble, so I was just happy that she did what she did. "On Sunday morning you wouldn't have known she'd had a run. She's actually going to stay there, she's gone to the paddock at one of those nice places down at Mornington." Clarken and O'Shea were not sure where Kuroyanagi would get to in her first preparation, with the view the $390,000 Written Tycoon filly will be a superior three-year-old galloper. "We've hardly trained her really, she's just done it under her own steam, we nearly put her in the paddock three or four times and she just kept pointing us in the right direction," O'Shea said. "He (Brenton Avdulla) said she was just green, ran off the corner and ran around the place, she's still six months away. He said she might even be a Guineas-type of horse, she's got the big action and she'll only keep improving."Story from Racing.com Tim Yeatman

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Clarken ‘blown away' by his Blue Diamond filly

Blue Diamond contender Kuroyanagi is doing things Will Clarken has never seen before. The Group 1-winning trainer is astounded by the physical development of the talented filly and her appetite for work, confident she's going to run a big race in Saturday's $2m feature at Caulfield. Clarken has been open about the fact he's been searching for an excuse to tip Kuroyanagi out, convinced she's going to be even better as a three-year-old, but she's just thriving. "It's amazing. Me and (co-trainer) Niki (O'Shea) are just blown away by what she's done," Clarken said. "I could send people a video of her first gallop this prep and you'd just think it was a different horse. The way she's improved and the way she can handle pressure in a preparation is phenomenal. "I've never had a juvenile who has strengthened and developed in work. Week-to-week she's getting bigger and stronger and more durable. She's a ferocious doer and nothing fazes her. "I haven't dealt with a lot of really good young horses like this but she's just obviously got a great constitution." Kuroyanagi first came to prominence in early January when superstar jockey Jamie Kah made a rare visit home to South Australia to ride her to a dominant victory in a jumpout at Murray Bridge. She went on to win her debut in soft fashion at Gawler before an agonising second across the border in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies earlier this month. "She's just come home and thrived. I haven't had one travel back and handle it so well for a long time," Clarken said. "That was our main concern as it was the first trip away for a young horse but she's put on weight, she's really above herself and he work has been terrific – we've been able to get two good gallops into her." With Kah and Blake Shinn, who partnered Kuroyanagi in the Prelude, opting to go elsewhere, Clarken was left searching for a suitable rider and he was watching a recent Sha Tin meeting when it hit him that Brenton Avdulla would be perfect. "I like to keep an eye on Hong Kong racing because we've got a small pool of horses over there now and he's riding so well," he said. "I was going through options, I asked a couple of Sydney guys and they had rides up there, so I said to (racing manager) Lachie (Weekley) ‘why don't you ask (Avdulla)'? "We watched him ride a double at the Chinese New Year meeting and I thought ‘imagine getting him on, it'd be awesome'." Kuroyanagi is rated an $18 hope with the TAB and Clarken thinks that presents good value. "The gate (two) to me is not ideal, I would've liked to have drawn out a little bit, but we've got the gun riding her, so that will help," he said "If she gets a little luck in running, I think she's a genuine each-way chance. "It's hard to say that going into big Group 1s but she has trained on remarkably well."

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SA filly ready to take next step

Eleven years after Miracles Of Life saluted in the Blue Diamond Stakes for trainer Dan Clarken, his cousin Will Clarken will be hoping to deliver a Group 1 to South Australia with talented filly Kuroyanagi. The $390,000 Written Tycoon filly was brilliant when a narrow runner-up to Hayasugi in the fillies' division of the Blue Diamond Prelude and Clarken believes his runner, who he trains in partnership with Niki O'Shea, can take the next step at what will be just her third start. "I think there is a fair bit of improvement in her … really her first start was a three-horse field at Gawler where she won on debut, she looks like she's really bounced out of it, I've been surprised how well she's come through it (Prelude)," Clarken said. "Her work was tremendous this morning and I'm sure that she can make the right steps forward, but obviously she'd have to."Kuroyanagi has drawn barrier two and will get the services of jockey Brenton Avdulla, who is currently based in Hong Kong and will fly in for the G1 ride. "She's drawn low, which is a lovely gate for her, so good to have Brenton (Avdulla) coming back to Aus to ride her for us," Clarken said. "There's a solid line-up with some exciting colts in the race, hopefully from the soft draw and a good, solid run the other day, she can find a couple of lengths that she needs to. "There will be a few unknowns in the race, but the way that she finishes off her work, I think she's been crying out for it, she takes a little while to sort of change gears and she can lose her action a bit at top speed. "I'm sure that she'll be just behind the speed, I reckon she will run a solid six (furlongs) out no worries at all."Story from Racing.com

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Avdulla booked for Blue Diamond contender

Star Hong Kong-based jockey Brenton Avdulla will make a flying return to Australia to ride boom South Australian filly Kuroyanagi in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. The Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea-trained two-year-old made waves last month when Jamie Kah returned to her home state of SA to partner her in a dominant jumpout win, before going on to salute under Ben Price on debut at Gawler. Last week Kuroyanagi was beaten a pimple in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies with Blake Shinn in the saddle but connections have now snapped up Avdulla for Saturday week's feature.The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced the booking on Friday, giving Avdulla permission to make the quick trip while also confirming he will return to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday, February 25. Clarken has a big opinion of Kuroyanagi, who is rated a $17 chance for the Blue Diamond, and expects her to be even better as a three-year-old. "There's a lot to come with her, she's not a little horse that's fully matured that you really want to get to now, she's got a big future ahead of her," he said. Story from Racenet (Tom Biddington)

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Black-type debut to come for unstoppable Second To Nun

In form mare Second To Nun will chase a fifth win in succession in Saturday’s $120,000 JRA Plate (Premier’s Plate) at Morphettville. Co-trainer Will Clarken confirmed the mare will back-up in the Listed feature following her Strathalbyn Cup success last Friday. Second To Nun will try and better the deeds of her mother Tidy Prophet who finished fourth in the 2016 feature before winning the Port Lincoln Cup. She is one of a host of key local nominations and will carry 54kg with Adelaide Cup hopeful The Map and Hasta La War both resuming in the 2006m race. Hasta La War is set to shoulder the top weight of 60kg, while The Map was allocated 54.5kg. Leading Victorian trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes have dual nominations in the race. Last-start Moonee Valley winner Independent Road was given 59kg while Port Guillaume was given 57kg. 11 on the 18 nominations are on the minimum.Story from Racing SA

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‘We're rapt with her': Clarken set to take boom SA filly to Caulfield

Boom South Australian filly Kuroyanagi is on track to compete in Saturday's Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude, but co-trainer Will Clarken won't hesitate to pull the plug if anything is even slightly off. The talented two-year-old first came under notice when superstar hoop Jamie Kah made a flying visit home to SA to partner her in a Murray Bridge jumpout last month – winning impressively – before proving a class above on debut at Gawler under Ben Price a fortnight ago. Kuroyanagi has been the subject of strong support in early betting for the Group 1 Blue Diamond – backed in from $51 to $11 – and she's set to take another step towards that target this weekend. "She'll be accepted for Morphettville and Caulfield. I'm 90 per cent sure she'll go to Caulfield, Blake Shinn will ride," Clarken, who trains in partnership with Niki O'Shea, said. "She galloped hard (at Morphettville on Saturday morning), we'll have a look at her and if everything looks all right we'll go over there." While Kuroyanagi had a relatively easy time of things at her first start – she comfortably handled a field of four – it took her a couple of days to recover. "All of our horses that ran at Gawler that day felt the track. Although they all ran well, the track was hard," Clarken said. "She felt the track a little bit but she went to the beach for a few days and her legs were as cold as ice and she's jumping out of her skin." Clarken has a big opinion of the daughter of Written Tycoon, who cost $390,000 at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, but has made no secret of the fact he thinks she'll be even better as a three-year-old. "She's literally growing and filling out in work, so we're rapt with her, but I look at her and just think about putting her in the paddock," he said. "There's a lot to come with her, she's not a little horse that's fully matured that you really want to get to now, she's got a big future ahead of her. "When she puts her hand up and says she wants the paddock, she'll be going out." The stable is absolutely airborne at the moment with 13 winners from its past 25 runners and currently holds a three-win lead over Richard and Chantelle Jolly in the Adelaide trainers' premiership. Story from Racenet (Tom Biddington)

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Adelaide filly holds a Diamond dream

Trainer Will Clarken has always had plenty of time for his speedy filly Kuroyanagi (Written Tycoon), and the promising 2-year-old will be afforded the opportunity to compete in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) at Caulfield on Saturday. “She’s going to be entered for Melbourne and Morphettville but we’re most likely leaning towards Melbourne at this stage,” Clarken, who trains in partnership with Niki O’Shea, told Racing.com. “She had a good working gallop at Morphettville on Saturday morning, worked really nicely and came through very well. “Jamie (Kah) is going to stick to the other filly (Hayasugi), so Blake Shinn will ride her if she runs at Caulfield.”Story from TTR AusNZ

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Price's emotional honour after tragic deaths of mum and cousin

It's a testament to Ben Price's resilience that he has been able to perform at such a high level on the track, establishing himself of one of South Australia's leading riders, while navigating the anguish associated with two devastating personal tragedies. The 21-year-old had to endure more than most in 2023 with the passing of his mother Belinda after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer compounded by the shock death of his 18-year-old cousin Charlie Stevens, who was struck by a car in a hit-and-run crash at Goolwa Beach during Schoolies week. The fact he was able to ride 66 winners, finish fourth in the 2022-23 metro premiership and maintain that position this season, while also securing his maiden black-type victory aboard Coco Sun in the Listed Oaklands Plate, just highlights his mental toughness. But when Price was named Dux of the Racing SA Apprentice Academy for the second straight year on Monday night, the emotion of it all, understandably, came flooding out. "It's huge, it really means a lot to be honest, it's been a tough 12 months," Price said. "Losing your mum is not easy and then losing your cousin, who's like your little brother, it's been hard. "He was one of my best mates and it was terrible what happened to him. You could say we've had a rough year and a half, two years. "I've got to thank a lot of my close friends who have been there for me along the way." Asked how he found the capacity to keep riding in the face of adversity, Price knew he had to keep forging forward. "It's what mum would've wanted – to keep going," he said. "I've got to thank my bosses Will (Clarken) and Niki (O'Shea), they've helped me out a lot. "Without my friends and family, I wouldn't be here winning this award." Looking ahead, Price is now adjusting to life as a senior jockey but he's not setting any bold goals. "I just hope to keep riding winners," he said. "Will and Niki have guaranteed me a spot in their team, so that gives me a little bit of comfort to know I'm with the team that's winning the premiership at the moment."Story from Racenet (Tom Biddington)

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