Experience garnered towards the pointy end of the two-year-old season is expected to hold Satin Summer in good stead when she resumes in an off-season race at Rosehill.
Trained by Michael Freedman, a renowned conditioner of juveniles, Satin Summer defeated subsequent VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes runner-up Zambales on debut in January before finishing fifth to Agrarian Girl in the Lonhro Plate (1000m).
Tim Clark has his first race day ride aboard her in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) on Saturday, and after partnering the filly to a recent barrier trial win he expects her early experience to prove invaluable against a field that includes promising debut winner Omolong from the Chris Waller stable.
“Yes, there are some nice horses coming through and Chris’ horse won well at the midweeks, but she’s in her second preparation and she’ll be ready to go,” Clark said.
“She is a pretty sharp type of filly. I had a sit on her Tuesday morning as well, and was very happy with her work.
“She is a really straightforward, easy sort of filly to do anything with. She knows her job, and she is well educated.
“I think she is going to look the winner at some stage in the straight.”
The two-year-old race has attracted a handy line-up led by $850,000 yearling purchase Omolong and Bjorn Baker-trained debutant Kotor, who fetched the same amount in the sales ring and is unbeaten in a brace of trials.
Clark’s mounts also include Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import Mo Chroi, a four-year-old exported to Australia after two runs in Ireland, highlighted by a middle-distance win.
Mo Chroi got his local career off to a flying start with a 1550m victory at Canterbury last month, and while Saturday’s TAB Handicap (2000m) represents a class rise, Clark is banking on the horse having the upside to handle it.
“Gai and Adrian seem to have a really good record at getting the imports ready to go first time out, generally over a bit further than what he ran in,” Clark said.
“It was good to see him be sharp enough and have that good tactical speed and be able to race on pace over a shorter journey.
“He’s jumping in grade, and it wasn’t a strong race at the midweeks, but he’s getting out to the right distance, and soft ground won’t be any concern.”
