Ironclad kicks off massive Melbourne Cup carnival for Will Clarken

The South Australian coach is anticipating to have runners at three of the 4 iconic conferences with black-type performers Beau Rossa and Ironclad representing the secure on Derby Day.

Clarken stated the latter is his finest likelihood, the seven-year-old trying to acquire the largest win of his profession, including to the three Listed races already on his CV.

John Allen takes the journey from barrier 10 and the coach is hoping Ironclad can produce the same first-up efficiency to the one which noticed him dash brilliantly to seize the Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville in March.

“We’ve actually taken word of that (win within the Matrice), he’s an older horse who’s bought a couple of illnesses and I feel the time to actually strike with him is first-up,” Clarken stated.

“I’m actually buoyant about how Ironclad has come up. His coat hasn’t been this good for a very long time and he turned in a fantastic piece of labor on Tuesday morning. He’s in a very great way.

“Though it’s a Group 2 and it’s price some huge cash, he’s in a race that I feel he might be aggressive in.”

Punters really feel equally, Ironclad firming from $15 to $12 with the TAB when markets opened.

The secure is much less assured concerning the prospects of Beau Rossa, a $21 likelihood within the Group 3 Rising Quick Stakes.

Ben Melham shall be within the irons and the directions shall be very simple.

“We’ll be using him ultra-conservatively – he bought into some dangerous habits on the finish of final prep,” Clarken stated.

“So we’ll attempt to preserve half the sector in entrance of us and hopefully see him discovering the road and that’ll give us an excellent basis for plenty of good races to return.

“His downside is he’s bought that prime handicap score, wherever we run him first-up in a handicap, he’s going to be massive odds as a result of he wants to hold the load in opposition to good horses who’re arduous and match.”

Melbourne Cup day shall be a giant one for Clarken’s secure apprentice Ben Worth, who will make his Flemington debut on Second Slip.

The six-year-old was crushed 2.6 lengths when resuming in a Listed race at Caulfield earlier this month and boasts a powerful second-up report with three wins and a 3rd from 5 begins.

“He’s come on very well from his run the opposite day, he’s taken a whole lot of health from that,” Clarken stated.

Balaklava Cup and Seymour Cup champion Noname Lane is an opportunity to proceed his sterling preparation within the Listed Furphy Plate on the primary in November.

The six-year-old is coming off a last-start seventh within the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, ending 2¾ lengths behind Tuvalu.

In the meantime, globetrotter He’s A Balter will resume on Oaks Day, his first run since having two begins at Meydan over the Dubai World Cup Carnival, for a second and a fourth in a Group 2.

“He’s trialled up terrific the opposite day. He’s an sincere horse however he’s bought a excessive handicap,” Clarken stated.

“He’s the hardest horse you’ll discover.”

Initially printed as Ironclad kicks off big Melbourne Cup carnival for Will Clarken