Will Clarken is taking a big team to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup carnival and he’s hoping to get an early shot at the talented Ironclad in the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes on Saturday.
The South Australian trainer expects to have runners in three of the four iconic meetings with black performers Beau Rossa and Ironclad representing the stable on Derby Day.
Clarken said the latter is his best chance, the seven-year-old looking to claim the biggest win of his career, adding to the three races already listed on his CV.
John Allen takes the ride from barrier 10 and the trainer hopes Ironclad can produce a similar maiden performance to the one that saw him run brilliantly to capture the Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville in March.
???????????? CONTEST WINNER ????????????
IRONCLAD (Dubawi x Heat Haze) is back!
The talented import showed his tenacity and will to win under a perfect @jamieleekah07 ride to win the Matrix Stakes on @SAJockeyClub ????
Fantastic stuff from @Clarken_Racing ????
Congratulations on the links ???? pic.twitter.com/yTnsGCdvjq
— Australian Bloodstock Updates (@ausbloodstock2) March 14, 2022
“We’ve really taken that (Matrix win) into consideration, he’s an older horse that’s got a few ailments and I think the time to really kick on with him is early,” Clarken said.
“I’m very pleased with the way Ironclad has performed. His coat hasn’t been this good for a long time and he did a nice job on Tuesday morning. He’s in very good form.
“Even though he’s a Group 2 and he’s worth a lot of money, he’s in a race where I think he can be competitive.”
Punters feel similarly, Ironclad strengthening from $15 to $12 with the TAB when markets opened.
The stable is less confident about the prospects of Beau Rossa, a $21 chance in the fast-rising Group 3 stakes.
Ben Melham will be on the bars and the instructions will be very direct.
“We’re going to run him ultra-conservatively – he picked up some bad habits at the end of last prep,” Clarken said.
“So we’ll try to keep half the field in front of us and hopefully see him find the line and that will give us a good foundation for a lot of good racing to come.
“His problem is he’s got that high handicap rating, wherever we put him first in a handicap he’s going to have a big chance because he’s got to carry the weight against good horses who are strong and capable.”
Beau Rossa (left) finishes second to Behemoth in last year’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes. Photo: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images
Melbourne Cup day will be a big one for Clarken stablemate Ben Price, who will make his Flemington debut in the Second Slip.
The six-year-old was beaten 2.6 lengths when resuming in a Listed race at Caulfield earlier this month and boasts a strong sophomore record with three wins and a third from five starts.
“He played really well from his run the other day, he got a lot of fitness from it,” Clarken said.
Balaklava Cup and Seymour Cup champion Noname Lane is a chance to continue his excellent preparation in the Listed Furphy Plate in early November.
The six-year-old is seventh last start in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, finishing 2¾ lengths behind Tuvalu.
Meanwhile, globetrotter He’s A Balter will resume on Oaks Day, his first run since two starts at Meydan during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, for a second and a fourth in a Group 2.
“He tested great the other day. He’s an honest horse but he’s got a high handicap,” Clarken said.
“He’s the strongest horse you’ll find.”
