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By Ray Hickson

There’s an air of confidence about jockey Tim Clark when he talks North Star Lass’s chances of claiming another leg of the Darley Princess Series at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Tim Clark (Pic: Bradley Photos)

After flying under the radar with her third in the Silver Shadow first-up, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly came off the canvas to win the Furious Stakes two weeks ago and Clark said stepping up in distance is only going to be in her favour.

So it sets up an intriguing clash between Silver Shadow winner Zougotcha and North Star Lass in the Group 2 $250,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).

“She toughed it out really well the other day and I always felt getting out to 1400m would be much better for her,’’ Clark said.

“She’s really come on in the last couple of weeks, her work on Tuesday morning was outstanding and I expect her to run very well.”

In the Furious it appeared Clark and North Star Lass would have to settle for second when Willinga Beast headed them passing the 300m.

But the Tulloch Lodge muscle kicked in and she rallied.

“When Willinga Beast couldn’t put me away I always felt my filly was going to fight back. She came out strong at the end,’’ he said.

“The tempo of a 1400m race will suit her better, it won’t be too much of a rush. They went quite quick there the other day in that 1200m so she’ll be able to get into a better rhythm.”

North Star Lass was $5 with TAB on Friday, second elect behind Zougotcha ($2.40).

Sydney Cup winner Knights Order surprised a few when he won the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) first-up on that very heavy track two weeks ago.

Clark conceded the pattern of the day was in his favour but had an inkling he would run a cheeky race fresh.

When it comes to the Group 3 $200,000 Furphy Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), he said how the day unfolds will influence his confidence levels but can’t fault the way the eight-year-old is going.

“He still feels sharp in his work and he just seems to be a in a good space at the moment. He’ll run another forward race,’’ he said.

“If the track improves maybe a sharper horse with a turn of foot might outsprint him but if it is a bit of a slog again he’s going to be right in the mix.”

An improving track will be key to Converge’s chances in a very strong renewal of the Group 1 $1m Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (1600m) after he floundered first-up in the heavy ground.

He has 10 lengths to make up on Zaaki from the Tramway Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago but Clark said he can improve on less testing ground.

“Ideally I think he is a good 4 horse, that’s when he is at his absolute best,’’ he said.

“It was a small field the other day and we tried to be that little bit closer to be near his main opposition.

North Star Lass wins at Randwick on September 3

“I was never confident he was going to handle that ground. Hopefully he can find a better track and bounce back.”

Cross Talk has been one of the finds of the winter and while his preparation stretches back to May he tackles the Group 3 $200,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) with a month between runs.

After a runaway win in the Winter Challenge, the gelding was run down by Skyman when third in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury and Clark said his versatility is going to take him a long way especially with a drop to 53kg.

“He performs well with his runs space so that’s definitely no concern. He’s had that tickover trial to keep him active and he’s pretty versatile on all sorts of going,’’ he said.

“He gets in with the light weight and that’s going to assist him. He’s come a long way this prep, he‘s gone up the best part of 30 benchmark points to it’s a big leap and he’s still performing well so he’s doing a good job.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting