Lauren Stojakovic retains ride on Miracles Of LIfe

Little known Adelaide apprentice Lauren Stojakovic has retained the ride on speedy filly Miracles Of Life when she makes her Melbourne debut at Caulfield in the Listed $120,000 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview  (1000m) for fillies on Saturday.

Stojakovic is apprenticed to the filly’s trainer Daniel Clarken in Adelaide and it was widely thought that she would be replaced when Miracles Of Life travelled to Melbourne for the Blue Diamond Preview but connections have stuck with her.

“I was quietly hoping I was still in the mix of names but I didn’t get too excited. I thought they may have opted for someone else,” Stojakovic said.

“But they’ve chosen me which is awesome. I guess it was a mix of shock, excitement and also a little bit of nerves when I got told.”

“I have ridden her in her two starts, in which I didn’t have to do too much to help her, but I know her and she knows me and I think that’s a big help.”

Clarken had been swamped with calls from jockeys looking to obtain the prize ride but has put his faith in his 2kg claiming apprentice even though it is a non-claiming race.

Miracles Of Life has created a huge impression with her two wins at Morphettville with a combined winning margin of fourteen and a half lengths, but Clarken will wait until after Saturday’s race before committing to a Blue Diamond start.

The undefeated filly will have to race very competitively for connections to pay the late entry fee of $55,000 for the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 23.

“She’ll either have to win or be super competitive for us to pay up.”

“I know she’s run time but she’s still got to have some real pressure put on her, then we’ll see what happens. There are some very nice young horses getting around.”

“There’s still a lot of hurdles to get over, she’s got to travel still, but in saying that we’re going with a genuine chance.”

Stojakovic, who will also be making her Melbourne riding debut, has ridden nine winners this season with five in the Metropolitan area and will be in the national spotlight when she is legged up onto the short priced favourite.

Miracles Of Life made her race debut with Stojakovic at Morphettville Parks on December 22 and scored by over five lengths in the 1000m two year old and then went even better at Morpehettville with a nine lengths victory over 1050m on January 5.

Even though Miracles Of Life isn’t yet nominated for the Blue Diamond, market framers have installed the Not A Single Doubt filly as the $7.50 favourite and that quote could shorten after Saturday if she was to reproduce her Adelaide wins.

Miracles Of Life will be facing a better class of filly at Caulfield including Gai Waterhouse’s Warwick Farm winner Swing Vote, Peter Moody’s two year old winners Diamond Glow and Mystical Miss, Peter Snowden’s Caulfield winner Montsegur and Sandown winner Bulbula trained by David Hayes.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.