Will Clarken chasing Balaklava Cup three-peat with strong trio

Premiership-winning trainer Will Clarken has three top chances to win the Balaklava Cup for the third year in a row.

Second To Nun winning the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes at Morphettville last month. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Will Clarken is building an affinity with the Balaklava Cup (1600m), and the premiership-winning trainer is targeting a three-peat on Wednesday with a formidable trio of runners.

Progressive mare Favourite Child is a $5.50 favourite with TAB fixed odds, closely followed by stablemate Second To Nun ($7.50) on the third line of betting.

Second To Nun has established herself as one of the in-form gallopers in South Australia, winning the Leon Macdonald Stakes in August – her seventh win of the calendar year.

“She’s become really bulletproof as far as we get her in the system and she sort of does the same thing, she hasn’t turned a hair,” Clarken, who trains in partnership with Niki O’Shea, said.

“She’s probably gone career-best to win (the Leon Macdonald), and it always weighs on your mind a bit whether they can put two of those strong PBs together in a row.

“I like what she’s done since, we don’t ever test her on the track, she’s a happy horse in a good headspace.”

It's Second To Nun's Leon Macdonald Stakes! 🔥

Congratulations to breeder & part-owner, @eaglepunt 👏 @KaylaCrowther2@Clarken_Racingpic.twitter.com/YSlBndnKxE

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 24, 2024

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Second To Nun will carry the topweight of 58.5kg on Wednesday, a hefty impost compared to rivals Pudding (56kg) and Air Assault (55.5kg) who are next in line at the weights.

“The handicapper hasn’t missed her, she’s giving a horse like Air Assault three kilos, he has won four stakes races in his career and third in a Group 1,” he said

“I’m not sure how that’s happened – but it is what it is.”

Balaklava’s typical on-pace bias suits the mare, with metro premiership-leading hoop Kayla Crowther booked to ride.

“The boxes she ticks on Wednesday is that she loves pace in races, she’ll definitely get that, she gets Kayla’s services, she knows her really well and has a good affinity with her,” he said. Favourite Child also comes through the Leon Macdonald Stakes, where she finished fifth, and has the enviable services of superstar jockey Jamie Kah to guide her.

Smart gelding Sachem ($16) is also not to be overlooked, he is the third horse in Clarken and O’Shea’s Cup cohort, and will be ridden by Ben Price from gate 14.

“She (Favourite Child) will probably get a beautiful run for Jamie, there’s nothing between them, I could even make a case for Sachem before the barrier draw,” he said.

Jamie Kah guides Sachem to a soft win at Morphettville in July. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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South Australian-born Kah is the headline act in Wednesday’s riding ranks, which have been bolstered by interstate Group 1 winners.

Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Jye McNeil will ride second favourite Arqana ($6) for Anthony and Sam Freedman, 33-time Group 1 winner Craig Newitt also has a book of five rides, including the Michael Hickmott-trained Maracourt in the Cup.

Hickmott has also acquired the services of other travelling Group 1-winning hoops, Sydney-based jockey Andrew Adkins, who will pilot Alpine Flyer, and three-time Group 1 winner Joe Bowditch, who returns to Adelaide to ride Dubai Poet.

Alongside Favourite Child, Kah has another booking on the 10-race card, three-year-old filly Little Princess, owned by her father John.

“He’s (John) been a good mate of mine awhile, we’ve done a bit of work together, Clarken, who won last year’s race with Ironclad, said.

“We think she’s pretty much ready to go, she’s got great speed which is obviously a big asset at Balaklava when the rail looks like the place to be.”

Originally published as Will Clarken chasing Balaklava Cup three-peat with strong trio