Clarken making splash

A YOUNG Adelaide trainer with his first runner in a Group 1 race is out to upstage some of the biggest stables in Australian racing at Caulfield today.

Will Clarken, 23, is hardly a household name, but that could all change i f his bargain-basement filly Molto Bene wins the $ 500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m).

Champion trainers such as David Hayes, Peter Snowden, Clarry Conners, John Thompson, Leon Corstens, Michael Moroney, Robert Smerdon and Greg Eurell have runners in the fillies classic. But Molto Bene heads betting at $4.50 with TAB fixed odds.

Molto Bene, bought for $40,000 at the Sydney Classic Yearling Sales last year, earned Guineas favouritism with her fast-finishing third behind Lady Of Harrods and Commanding Jewel in the Prelude last start.

It’s been almost a month since Molto Bene last ran, but this has all been part of Clarken’s strategy to have his filly at her peak for the Thousand Guineas.

‘‘Molto Bene is thriving at Caulfield. I’m really happy with her condition,’’ Clarken said. ‘‘We elected not to go to the Edward Manifold Stakes because I thought it would take a bit too much sting out of her legs, and to win a race like this, she really has to be able to accelerate. She trialled at Cranbourne last Monday (October 8) and went well.’’

A f ormer apprentice jockey, Clarken rode for 18 months before increasing weight forced him to give up riding. Two years ago he took out a trainer’s licence and now has 10 horses in work at his Morphettville stables.

‘‘Molto Bene gave me my first stakes winner when she won the (Group 3) SA Sires’ Produce Stakes back in April and now she is my first Group 1 starter — she is the stable star,’’ he said proudly.