Rising star races ahead

And on Monday, the three-year-old continued to prove Clarke’s first instincts on the money after posting the most impressive win of her short career to date at Moruya.

Saharamar’s win over 1200m was the Markane sired filly’s third in succession coming off back-to-back victories at Queanbeyan last month.

The promising galloper has now posted three wins and a second in four starts this preparation to be well in contention for the 2013/13 South East Racing Association Horse of the Year award.

“The day I got her I thought, ‘I’ve got something special here’,” Clarke said. “Another trainer had her as a young horse before she was broken in and couldn’t handle her so they asked if I wanted her.

“I think I’ve got a pretty good horse out of it. She’s well put together and she just does everything right so I can’t fault her at the moment.”

Saharamar’s form since returning from her most recent spell has been something of a turnaround having finished out of the places in her previous three runs.

The then two-year-old struggled badly in her only trip to town to date, finishing 10th on a heavy track at Canterbury. But Clarke said despite the poor run, he had no doubt his current stable star would prove a city quality horse, possibly as early as this preparation.

“Last prep she was only a baby, it was more about just getting her a bit of race experience,” he said.

“I honestly do this she can pick up a race in town. I’d need to find a suitable run for her, probably a midweek race at Canterbury or somewhere like that but I think she’s got a win up there in her.

“If I can’t find the right race, I’ll just give her one or two more runs down here and then send her back to paddock.”

After initially nominating Saharamar at Queanbeyan this Saturday, Clarke said he would instead take the three-year-old back to Moruya on January 21. 

Publicans Purse Race Day

Where: Queanbeyan Race Course, McCrae Street

When: Saturday, first race 11.30am