A start in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6 for Blue Diamond winner Miracles Of Life is still a remote possibility but unlikely according to trainer Daniel Clarken.
Miracles Of Life winning the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Bruno Cannatelli.
Miracles Of Life has returned to her Adelaide base after scoring an emotional win for Clarken and rider Lauren Stojakovic in the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
And Clarken won’t be rushed into making a Golden Slipper decision until Miracles Of Life recovers from her memorable victory at Caulfield but his first thoughts are that the tiny filly will go to the spelling paddock and miss Sydney.
“I think it might be too much and will probably recommend the paddock to the owners, but the door is certainly not closed,” Clarken said.
“It’s up to her to tell me.”
Miracles Of Life has shown Clarken in the past her great recuperative qualities and he had to rethink a Blue Diamond start after originally thinking that his pocket rocket wouldn’t cope with the ware and tare of a tough campaign.
“But she did so well in that instance that we had to rethink,” Clarken said.
“It might happen again. It will depend on the horse, for sure.”
“I just want to see what she is like when she gets home.”
Connections of Miracles Of Life will have to pay a late entry fee of $150,000 to get a spot in the Golden Slipper and even though that doesn’t have to be paid to the Australian Turf Club until April 1, six days prior to the race, Clarken will have to make a decision soon if he is going to Sydney.
The Adelaide trainer will have to freshen up Miracles Of Life and give her a run in Sydney before the Golden Slipper to gain experience the reverse way of going.
“The most important thing is to see how the horse is and then make a decision,” Clarken said.
Connections took the gamble and paid the $55,000 late entry fee for the Blue Diamond after not being in the original entries and picked up the first prize cheque of $600,000 as well as adding enormous value to Miracles Of Life later on in the breeding barn.
And Stojakovic was virtually an unknown before Clarken promoted her into the spotlight when he retained her as his rider when he took the filly to Melbourne firstly to win the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview for Fillies (1000m) at Caulfield on January 26 before her explosive Blue Diamond win.
Stojakovic rode the perfect race on the Blue Diamond $3.20 favourite and from barrier one had Miracles Of Life midfield on the fence, eased out coming to the home turn and had a clear run to the line to score by one and a half lengths from $26 chance Fast ‘N’ Rocking with Godiva Rock ($17) close up in third spot.
But Stojakovic had a short lived celebration and return to South Australia on Sunday for five unplaced rides at Balaclava.
