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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

Keeping it in the family

Later in the day, a pair of lots sold for $200,000 respectively to secure their placings as the joint-second-top lots on the second day of trade. Lot 273, the first of the duo to go under the hammer, is a filly by Yulong’s Written Tycoon who sold to Ridgeport Holdings, Clarken Bloodstock, and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA). The filly is out of Blue Morpho (Hussonet) who from 16 starts on the track managed three wins, including landing the 2018 Laelia Stakes (Listed, 1600m). Clarken and his training partner Niki O’Shea know about the family, with the filly’s brother, the unraced Windrow, and her Alabama Express half-sister, who Clarken bought for $80,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021, both residents of their Murray Bridge stable. “The quality always makes money and there have been some really nice types and there’s been no doubt that they have been well received. We were narrowly beaten on the Zoustar filly [Lot 255] earlier today and we were lucky enough to get the Written Tycoon filly a second ago,” Will Clarken told ANZ Bloodstock News. “I’ve got her two relations who have shown great promise and haven’t been to the races yet. Written Tycoon has been a good stallion to the yard and we’ve got Kuroyanagi who was Group 1-placed in the Blue Diamond and it’s going to be for the same ownership group [Ridgeport].” “We’ve got four so far [on the day], we’ve been sent a few and I think there’s a couple more on the list for the rest of the day, but we really came here to buy what we thought was the best filly and the best colt and I think we’ve done that. “Adelaide has been a really happy hunting ground for us. We bought Beau Rossa here and he was narrowly beaten in a Group 1. I bought Galaxy Patch out of here, Prawn Baba and both of them have run in a Hong Kong Derby [Galaxy Patch second in 2024] and I just know the sale and it’s been really good for us. “Let’s hope the Magic Millions lives on here in South Australia. Obviously there are some changes ahead, but it’s a great asset to have a sale in our backyard.”Story from ANZ Bloodstock News

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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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‘Quality’ So You Think colt heads to Clarken and O’Shea

A week on from claiming Adelaide Cup (Gr 2, 1200m) success with Silent Surrente (Fiorente), Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea secured a win in the sales ring when they went to $240,000 to secure a stunning colt by So You Think (High Chaparral) early on day one of selling at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Catalogued as Lot 25 and offered by Mill Park Stud, the colt is out of winning mare Miss Otto (Elusive Quality), making him a brother to Group 2 winner, and now Twin Hills Stud-based sire, Peltzer (So You Think). Bidding ringside at the Morphetville sales complex, the stable’s racing manager Lachie Weekley was thrilled to snare the colt, who was knocked down to Clarken Bloodstock in partnership with Suman Hedge Bloodstock and prominent South Australian businessman Rob Chapman. “He’s just got a lovely action and a really nice demeanour, beautiful head on him, great eye,” Weekley said. “Very importantly he came off a terrific farm in Mill Park Stud down at Meningie, from Chris Watson and the team, their record is second to none and one of the best in the land.” The partnership, who purchased four lots at this sale last year for a combined total of $285,000, had to stay strong to win the colt, and plan to continue the momentum on the second day. “We were right at [our limit on him]. We wanted to be pretty strong on him, obviously he’s a quality colt so we didn’t want to miss out and there was some good competition as always, with those nice horses. “The clients that we bought him for, they were keen to attempt to try and buy the best horse here and that’s what we saw him as. We did the job early and there’s a couple over the next day or two and that’ll be us.” A close relation to 2019 Adelaide Guineas (Listed, 1600m) winner So We Are (So You Think), Weekley said the colt will be given time to mature and develop. “He’s just a lovely horse and we’ll give him a bit of time. He’d be more that sort of three-year-old type. We’ll just let the ball come on to the bat.” Mill Park finished the first day as the leading vendors by aggregate, having sold 12 yearlings for $1,031,000, the only vendor to break the million barrier.

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Adelaide Cup Day summary: Milnes rates Silent Surrente to perfection in The Cup

Front running masterclass - gives Silent Surrente success in The Cup A brilliant piece of front-running riding by apprentice Rochelle Milnes enabled Silent Surrente to out-tough her opposition in the 2025 G2 Adelaide Cup for trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea. The daughter of Melbourne Cup-winning Fiorente (Ire) outstayed her rivals as Milnes took control of the race after being caught wide early on. She sustained a strong gallop, kicked away at the top of the straight and the result was never in doubt, claiming a 1.2l victory, with Newfoundland (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Grand Pierro (Pierro) filling the placings behind. “Your hometown cup obviously means a lot doesn't it?,” co-trainer Will Clarken said. “I pride myself on my modesty, my name is in the book but Niki really trains this horse – he's done a wonderful job. From the time she's got to the stable he's nurtured her, rides her all her work, it's obviously a team effort, we work hard together. Full credit to him, he's a brilliant horseman.” Silent Surrente’s dam, Silent Surround (Face Value), was a Group 3 winner on the track and has now produced three individual stakes winners, with Silent Surrente joining Listed winner Silent Command (Commands) and Silent Sovereign (Dalakhani {Ire}). Rochelle Milnes | Image courtesy of Racing SA This win is also great timing for Sledmere Stud, who offer Lot 165, a half-brother by Stay Inside, at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he is sure to be well-sought after. Silent Surround, since producing the Stay Inside colt heading to the sales, has had a regular date with Stay Inside, leaving a full sister last spring and being served the promising young sire last spring also. Story from TTR AusNZ

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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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Crowther's G1 chance on Flower

It's the race that's provided the script for a string of jockey fairytales in recent years and Kayla Crowther is hoping Saturday's Oakleigh Plate can deliver her a maiden Group 1 triumph too. The South Australia-based rider will partner rejuvenated mare Prairie Flower in the iconic handicap which has provided breakthrough elite-level wins for Ben Thompson (2023 on Uncommon James), Ben Allen (2022 on Marabi) and Teo Nugent (2021 on Portland Sky) this decade alone. Last year, Harry Coffey also won his first Victorian G1 race aboard Queman in the Oakleigh Plate. Crowther, 26, has ridden in 10 races at the top level and said she is always grateful to connections for trusting her with the ride in such races. "I'm pretty excited," Crowther said. "The only other Victorian Group 1 race I've ridden in was the Oakleigh Plate on Shamino and it was at Sandown that year. "Obviously these opportunities don't come up very often, so to be granted the ride, I'm super grateful. "I'm lucky in this one because the weight limits a few of the options of interstate riders. "Winning on the horse helped as well. "Will (Clarken) has been super loyal and he's given me some really good chances in nice races before - I rode Bella Vella for him in the Sangster a couple of years ago." Crowther has won two races on Prairie Flower, including the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville last month. Jamie Melham steered the daughter of Star Turn into third place in the G2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) but has elected to ride Arabian Summer for Tony and Clavin McEvoy on Saturday. Crowther believes Prairie Flower can run a cheeky race with 52kg in a high-pressure contest. "I think the 1100m is right up her alley," she said. "She appears to be in career-best form and I galloped her this morning at Oakbank - it was a really nice working four-two (800m gallop quickening up the final 400m) and she just feels enormous underneath me at the moment. "I couldn't be happier. "52kg in a fast-run 1100m will suit her down to the ground. "She's going to have to improve a couple of lengths to be in the finish of an Oakleigh Plate, but I don't think she's taken a step backwards, that's for sure." WATCH: Prairie Flower's Durbridge Stakes win Among the horses to beat in the Oakleigh Plate is Sghirripa, who Crowther partnered to an eye-catching win in a barrier trial last week. Strathalbyn-based trainers Shane and Cassie Oxlade are eyeing back-to-back wins in the race after Queman's victory in 2024. Crowther said Sghirripa, who bombed the start and finished unplaced behind his stablemate in last year's Oakleigh Plate, appears to be maturing. "I was really happy with his trial," she said. "He always does trial really well and he goes super in his first- and second-up runs. "He seems like he's maturing as an older horse and he was doing a few things better than he has before - he wasn't laying in as heavily as he can and he didn't over-race as fiercely as he can." Sghirripa is $15 in Sportsbet's Oakleigh Plate market, while Prairie Flower is $51.Story from Racing.com (James Tzaferis)

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Flower blooms for stakes victory in Durbridge

Prairie Flower is a veteran of 37 race starts, but at five years old the mare is just beginning to flourish. In her fourth start for new trainers Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea, the sharp mare surged to victory in Saturday's Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville. Purchased for $150,000 in an Inglis Online Sale last year, Prairie Flower has now won back-to-back races for the stable, Saturday's black-type win was a first, after running third at the level in the Without Fear Stakes in 2022 when trained by Henry Dwyer. "She came to us in really good fashion, (she's a) lovely sound mare," Clarken said. "David Jolly had a little bit to do with her when she was racing in South Australia, when she went online he gave me a really good push to get her and he was right. "She went into her first-up run and she was really underdone, and the programming was against us going into her second-up run which was a stakes race (Christmas Handicap) over 1200m – she just blew out." Prairie Flower was guided to the line by gun hoop Kayla Crowther, who has ridden the mare in all four starts this campaign. Clarken and O'Shea had the quinella in the race, with stablemate Extremely Lucky running boldly first-up for second. "I really have to pay homage to Kayla, I had to tinker with her gear a little bit and all of my riders work really well with me but we really gel in getting these sort of horses going," he said. "She does the hard yards, we galloped 15 at Oakbank on Tuesday morning, and she was one of the riders to get there and do the hard yards for us." Clarken now has his sights set on the Adelaide Racing Carnival with Prairie Flower, the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) is one of four SA Group 1s worth $1m in prizemoney – and perhaps it's time to dream large. "I'm actually really excited about her, I've got a race in mind that comes up over our carnival, and we'll most probably ease now and target it," Clarken said. "I don't know if she has the class (for the Sangster), but I've won Proud Miss's (Stakes) and other races with horses with less ability, and I think she can be a really high class mare for us." The afternoon was owned by Clarken, O'Shea and Crowther however, who put an exclamation mark on their success in the last race, combining for a win with Clarence, while stablemate Yasuke also gave them another quinella. The result saw Crowther split riding honours with Neindorf and Holder, who also scored a double on Saturday aboard Gin Spirit and Inaugural. Clarken and O'Shea shared training honours with the Stokes stable on the nine-race card. Story from Racenet

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Episodic regains winning touch to trainer's delight

After two unplaced finishes at stakes level, sharp mare Episodic returned to the winner's stall on Saturday with an impressive win at Murray Bridge. Guided under a gun steer from Todd Pannell, the daughter of Tavistock held off race favourite Let's Get Down in the closing stages to salute in a Benchmark 76 over 1200m. It was Episodic's first run in Benchmark grade following two unplaced runs in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes and Listed Christmas Handicap, either side of a four-and-a-half month spell. Trainer Niki O'Shea was thrilled to have his gun mare back in form, notching the fifth race win of her 18-start career. "(We're) delighted with that; it's a great effort by the team to get her back going," O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken, said. "She had a big prep last prep; sometimes those mares don't turn up after a spell; it's great to get her back going. "She's a quality mare, a real stable favourite, (she's) beautiful, so we're delighted to get her to win again." O'Shea was full of praise for Pannell's ride; the hoop settled in the box seat, peeling off the rail at the 400m before winding up strongly. The stable has another stakes tilt on the radar for the Pinecliff Racing-owned Episodic as they chase black-type status. "She's tough as nails and just tries her heart out every time; Todd rode her lovely again today, probably against her usual pattern, she usually gets right back and goes down the outside, but he was clever enough to use his position and he rode her beautifully," he said. "That's the aim (black type). She's racing for good clients, and she's got good pedigree; she deserves some black type – she's been really solid." Story from Racenet

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Former Aussie HK's next superstar?

Synonymous with Golden Sixty’s towering feats, Vincent Ho has anointed Galaxy Patch as Hong Kong’s “next future star” after the gelding’s dominant HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. Ho piloted Galaxy Patch (129lb) to an emphatic one and half length win over Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble (135lb) and rising talent Chancheng Glory (115lb) in 1m 33.49s in another confirmation of Galaxy Patch’s extraordinary talent. By Wandjina, Galaxy Patch raced only once in Australia as Gulinga Spirit, winning a Morphettville maiden race over 1100m for Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea before transferring to Hong Kong, where he has now won seven of 13 starts and prizemoney of more than HK$25 million. “He (Galaxy Patch) has got great talent and he will be the next future star, I would say,” said Ho, who partnered Golden Sixty to 26 wins from 31 starts, crowned by a Hong Kong record 10 Group 1 triumphs and world record prizemoney haul of HK$167.17 million. “At the moment, he’s only 70% fit - based on his form last-season, he would have smashed them easier today but it was enough for him to win today by just stretching out by himself.” Settling in second last place in the nine-horse field led by Beauty Eternal (131lb), Galaxy Patch loomed on the home turn before Ho angled into the middle of the track, clocking 22.11s for the final 400m without fully extending. Voyage Bubble was brave in defeat after covering ground, while Chancheng Glory held on well for third as stayer Straight Arron (125lb) charged from the rear for fourth. Ho combined with Golden Sixty to win last December’s LONGINES G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) – the race trainer Pierre Ng hopes to claim this season with Galaxy Patch – and Ho believes Galaxy Patch has the attributes to emulate Golden Sixty. “He (Galaxy Patch) is a horse that (will) probably replace Golden Sixty at the mile. He’s still maturing, of course. Once he relaxed, he can put the race to sleep and he also had a great turn of foot. It’s early-season, the first race for him, and the preparation is (going) very well.” Extending his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship, Ng will aim Galaxy Patch at the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on 17 November before the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile on 8 December. “He's the right horse that every trainer wants to train,” Ng said. “We're very pleased. With four trials, we just wanted him to be settled and he was today. Of course he's not 100 per cent fit, but we just tried to get him fit enough for today and he did very well. “With his stride length, he definitely looks improved from last season. Racing-wise, he's more professional, more relaxed and if he can be more relaxed in the parade ring, I'll be a bit happier. “Definitely he's got the potential - it's how we manage to get him up there. We'll just do it by each race and hopefully he can go further and better.” Story from Racing.com

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Rising Hong Kong Superstar for Wandjina

Larneuk Stud in Victoria is home to value sire Wandjina, whose talented son Galaxy Patch has been acclaimed as the next rising superstar in Hong Kong racing following his dominant return in the Group II Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) on Sunday. Trained by Pierre Ng and ridden by Vincent Ho, Galaxy Patch was second in the Hong Kong Derby back in March and then finished his season with a pair of Group wins in June. Tuned up with a series of recent trials, Galaxy Patch was fit and ready to fire first up over a mile and powered clear of Group I winner Voyage Bubble to win by a length and a half. “He (Galaxy Patch) has got great talent and he will be the next future star, I would say,” said Vincent Ho, who partnered Champion Miler Golden Sixty to 26 wins from 31 starts. “At the moment, he’s only 70% fit – based on his form last-season, he would have smashed them easier today, but it was enough for him to win today by just stretching out by himself.” Settling in second last place in the nine-horse field led by Beauty Eternal (131lb), Galaxy Patch loomed on the home turn before Ho angled into the middle of the track, clocking 22.11s for the final 400m without fully extending. The LONGINES G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in December is the target race Pierre Ng hopes to claim this season with Galaxy Patch and Ho believes Galaxy Patch has the attributes needed to emulate Golden Sixty. “He (Galaxy Patch) is a horse that (will) probably replace Golden Sixty at the mile. He’s still maturing, of course. Once he relaxed, he can put the race to sleep and he also had a great turn of foot. It’s early-season, the first race for him, and the preparation is (going) very well,” Ho added. Ng will aim Galaxy Patch at the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on 17 November as a stepping stone to the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile on 8 December. “He’s the right horse that every trainer wants to train,” Ng said. “We’re very pleased. With four trials, we just wanted him to be settled and he was today. Of course he’s not 100 per cent fit, but we just tried to get him fit enough for today and he did very well. “With his stride length, he definitely looks improved from last season. Racing-wise, he’s more professional, more relaxed and if he can be more relaxed in the parade ring, I’ll be a bit happier. “Definitely he’s got the potential – it’s how we manage to get him up there. We’ll just do it by each race and hopefully he can go further and better.” Galaxy Patch was a $50,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for Will Clarken/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Jolly from the Summerset Park Stud and won his debut in Adelaide before his sale to Hong Kong. He now has the overall record of nine wins from 15 starts. Bred and sold by Summerset Park, Galaxy Patch is a half-brother to stakes-placed Comearoundsundown and Creativity being the best of eight winners from unraced More Than Ready (USA) mare Voltara, who died last year.Galaxy Patch is one of seven stakes-winners for Wandjina, who stands at Larneuk Stud this spring at a fee of $6,600. Story from Breednet

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Kuroyanagi back to Caulfield

A return to Caulfield looks imminent for Blue Diamond third placegetter Kuroyanagi. The South Australian daughter of Written Tycoon, who will turn three on Thursday, is being set for the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) against her own age and sex on August 17, after a pleasing return run in last Saturday's Lightning Stakes. Kuroyanagi was brave but ultimately beaten by a fit horse, Lingani, on a testing Soft 7 surface in the Listed feature for two and three-year-old runners. "We were delighted with her to be honest," said Niki O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken. "The horse that beat her has been running all winter and is hard fit, so we were very pleased. "I think the ground wasn't exactly what she was looking for but she handled it all right and has come through the run well. "We're talking about going to Caulfield in three weeks' time for the Quezette, that's a loose plan, it gives her three weeks to bounce back because it was hard work first-up." Two of Kuroyanagi's four career starts have been at Caulfield, where she ran second in the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude and third in the Blue Diamond - both races which were won by Hayasugi.Story from Racing.com (Tim Yeatman)

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Kuroyanagi 'could be anything'

One of the finds of the autumn returns to the races this weekend with endless possibilities ahead of a spring campaign. South Australian filly Kuroyanagi was somewhat of a surprise packet rocketing into Blue Diamond calculations after a scintillating jump out at Murray Bridge and eventually ran third in the two-year-old classic behind winner Hayasugi and runner-up Lady Of Camelot who would go on to win the Golden Slipper. Those form lines have trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea brimming from ear to ear as spring nears. “She’s the most exciting horse we have, she could be absolutely anything,” O’Shea said. “It’s great to have her back, we’re delighted with the way she’s been going, hopefully we can kick off her preparation on the right note.” The $390,000 daughter of Written Tycoon resumes in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) for two and three-year-old gallopers at Morphettville this Saturday off a trial at Balaklava which featured talented open class horses. “She was in pretty good company that day and she’s worked well since then so she’s on the right track,” O’Shea said. “It would be great to win but obviously it’s hard against the older horses, first up, and on presumably testing ground.” When looking ahead at the spring calendar, O’Shea says there are many races suitable for Kuroyanagi, but one thing needs to be determined first. “I don’t really think anyone knows what her best trip is yet,” O’Shea said. “You’d assume she gets 1400m no worries but the way her action is you’d say she could be a Guineas filly, but then she’s also got a lot of speed so she might not want that far. “That’s something we’ll have to figure out or let us tell her, so we won’t be making any firm plans.” Kuroyanagi is an $8 chance to win the Thousand Guineas in November with Sportsbet. Clarken and O’Shea also have Hajra and Desert Dancing nominated for the Lightning Stakes.

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