Clark to fight suspension

STAR Tasmanian apprentice Raquel Clark has lodged an appeal against a three-meeting suspension from last Saturday’s meeting at Morphettville in South Australia.

Clark, who has been riding in SA on loan to Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas on a three-month trial since early March, was suspended for leaving the course without permission owing to her being needed for a stewards’ inquiry after the running of the last race on the program.

The talented rider would not elaborate on the circumstances that led to the suspension other than to say it was more a misunderstanding. Clark did confirm she had decided to have her indentures permanently transferred to Macdonald and Gluyas.

“I am very happy riding over here because I am getting the opportunities and it is a very good place to live,” Clark said. “I have appealed against the penalty I received for the incident after the last race on Saturday and I’m sure that will be cleared up.”

Clark, 23, began her riding career in 2015 and rode a winner at her first ride at Spreyton for Barry Campbell.

She was Tasmania’s leading apprentice in her second season, finishing runner-up to David Pires on the senior premiership table.

When she relocated Clark had ridden 90 winners in Tasmania and had outridden her claim, but in SA she can revert to a 3kg claim on metropolitan tracks.