Clarken eyes off 2017 Australia Stakes with Cavaloce
SOUTH Australian trainer Will Clarken plans on tackling the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley this Friday night with his consistent mare Cavaloce.
The six-year-old daughter of Testa Rossa is also nominated for the John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Thursday, but Clarken says the Australia Stakes is the plan, pending a suitable barrier draw.
“If she draws down near the inside at Moonee Valley we plan on withdrawing her from the Australia Stakes and running her at Caulfield,” Clarken told HorseBetting.com.au.
“She would have to draw barrier one or two for us to scratch her – but the further out the better for her because she likes to get back in her races and wind up.”
The bonny bay is a model of consistency, having faced the starter on 26 occasions for eight wins and eight minor placings, with her most recent run being a second in the Group 3 Standish Stakes at Flemington on New Years Day.
Clarken says Cavaloce has come through that run well and he is happy with her heading into Friday’s feature.
“She has come back from her run in Melbourne and she had a couple of days in the paddock followed by a couple of gallops at Morphettville.
“She looks fantastic and her work has been very good – I am really pleased with her.
“She is flying.”
Cavaloce will meet arguably the toughest test of her career in the Australia Stakes, coming up against the likes of Black Heart Bart, Flamberge, Malaguerra and Chetwood, but Clarken says she is ready for the challenge.
“She is going to meet a stronger field this week and the set weights make it a little bit harder for her, but there a lot of horses in the race which are first up and may need the run whereas she is hard fit and in peak form.
“Some of the other horses have a couple of lengths on her so she will need some luck – but if they happen to have an off day and if she is at her best then she is right in with a shot.
“If we were ever going to take them on, now is the perfect time.
“She can cause an upset, for sure.”
A triumph in Friday’s race would be a career highlight for Clarken who has been training since 2012 but has been involved in the industry most of his life.
“I was brought up in the racing game, my father was a jockey and a trainer so I followed in his footsteps.
“I rode for a couple of years but I got heavy very quickly. After that I became a horse breaker and now I am obviously into the training side of things.
“I love being a trainer – the book work is a nightmare – but the actual work with the horses is a lot of fun and I enjoy spending time with them.
“I currently have 16 in work – that’s enough – I don’t want many more than that because it’s a good number to ensure that everything is going right and it allows us to focus on quality rather than quantity.
“It would be a big thrill to win [the Australia Stakes] – it would be great for the owners and the horse – she deserves a big win because she is an honest horse with lots of ability.
“It would also be great for my profile – I am focusing on getting a nice line up of horses so it would definitely help my career as a trainer.”
The $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes is race seven at Moonee Valley this Friday night.