A few days after winning the VRC Oaks Trial at Flemington on a half-sister to the 2018 winner of the same race, Tim Clark is looking to achieve a similar feat in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill.
Clark made a flying visit to Melbourne to win Wednesday’s Oaks Trial on Celestial Falls for trainer Mark Newnham, having won in 2018 on that filly’s sibling Greysful Glamour.
The jockey won last year’s Gloaming Stakes on Thinkin’ Big and his half-brother Just Thinkin’ is favoured to follow suit in Saturday’s 1800m-race.
Clark says Just Thinkin’ is much like his elder sibling, the beaten favourite in last year’s Victoria Derby before being sold to Hong Kong.
“Spitting image,” Clark said.
“This bloke is probably a bit more of a lad. Even though he’s been gelded now, that’s why. He was a bit of a lad.
“But you couldn’t tell them apart.”
Just Thinkin’ has won his two starts this preparation including the Listed Dulcify Quality (1500m) and Saturday’s race is the next step towards the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and the Victoria Derby (2500m).
“He’s going well,” Clark said.
“He has made nice progression. He’s on the Derby path so hopefully he can take care of them on Saturday and continue to put the ones next to his name.
“At the moment 1800 metres should be ideal for him third-up.
“I can’t see him having any issues with 2000 metres and then it’s the question mark at 2500 metres. It’s a whole different ball game.”
Clark’s rides on the Rosehill card also include Just Thinkin’s stablemate Dawn Passage in the $1 million Group One Golden Rose.
Dawn Passage won the Rosebud in his season return before finishing fifth of eight, beaten almost eight lengths, in the Run To The Rose.
“He’s got a bit of ground to make up,” Clark said.
“He probably just didn’t appreciate being ridden close to the speed and being inside them last start, being a colt.
“So we’ll just ride him a bit more conservative on Saturday and get him to the outside and see if he can rip home.”
