Latest News

By Ray Hickson

He may have only trialled once but jockey Tim Clark is quietly confident Market Magic can continue the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott two-year-old juggernaut at Newcastle on Saturday.

Jockey Tim Clark (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Capitalist colt steps out in the NZB Airfreight Max Lees Classic (900m) on the back of a runaway trial win at Randwick two weeks ago and Clark said he’s already shown he’s a professional type.

Tulloch Lodge has already won four two-year-old races this season, the latest last week’s Golden Gift with Shangri La Express who is the current Golden Slipper favourite, and Clark has a liking for their latest product.

“He’s been coming along nicely,’’ Clark said.

“The gallops he put in before the trial suggested he would go to the trials and trial well, and he didn’t let us down.

“He’s going to go there pretty well schooled even though he’s only had the one trial and he will take plenty of beating I’d imagine.”

Market Magic, $2.30 with TAB on Friday, is closely related to Everest winner Giga Kick – his grand-dam is a half sister to the 2022 champ and dual Group 1 winner.

Clark said the Waterhouse-Bott two-year-old stocks will continue to be strong and he’s eagerly awaiting the debut of Storm Boy, who was scratched from Rosehill midweek.

“The wait will be worth it when he does step out at the races,’’ he said.

“He’s a horse that’s very talented, it’s a matter of timing and getting him on the right path being a Magic Millions horse.”

Unbeaten three-year-old Invincible Spy eyes three straight wins in the Group 3 NZB Spring Stakes (1600m) after kicking off with two provincial victories.

Clark said the colt is still on the way up in his career and while he’s up in class on paper the jockey feels its not such a huge step.

“He’s come a long way in a short period of time and he took a fair bit of time to work it all out,’’ he said.

“He seems to be starting to put it all together. It was a tough win at Newcastle first-up when he was challenged up the straight, and he was strong again at Gosford over the mile.

“He’s going to the races in good form. He’s a tough horse and he’ll keep grinding away from on speed.”

Dajraan has had a stop start career in the last 18 months but Clark says the six-year-old has come back in great shape to resume in the $1 million Newcastle Herald Hunter (1300m).

He’s only raced twice since winning the Group 3 Festival Stakes almost a year ago so is lacking some match practice though Clark has been enthusiastic about how he’s returned.

“I’ve been really pleased with his two trials and he’s going to run a really good race. But he’s obviously going to take improvement out of it as well,’’ he said.

Market Magic wins a trial at Randwick on November 3

“I’m going to the races knowing the horse is in good shape.”

A number of scratchings from The Hunter has made Clark’s task on Dajraan a shade easier as he’ll jump from gate nine instead of 13 in the original draw.

“He’s got that nice speed, he’s a horse you’ve got to keep relaxed as well,’’ he said.

“If he gets to fighting you he won’t finish off as well but if I find that happy medium and get him into a nice rhythm he has a good turn of foot.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Newcastle meeting