Lucky in line for Goodwood honours

Training partners Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea will chase a hometown first when they saddle Extremely Lucky in The Goodwood at Morphettville.

After starting his career in Adelaide, Extremely Lucky will be having his second run back for Clarken and O’Shea in Saturday’s Group 1 sprint over 1200m after a stint in Sydney with Chris Waller.

Extremely Lucky won on debut for Clarken at Murray Bridge in December 2021, later on collecting the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville the following July and two starts later lined-up at Group 1 level.

After finishing last in that contest behind Coolangatta at Moonee Valley, Extremely Lucky was transferred into the care of Waller, but went winless in six starts, and was returned to South Australia to continue his career.

Clarken was emotional after Extremely Lucky scored a first-up win in the Group 3 John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 27.

“He loved the horse always and when he got taken away from him, it was hard to swallow, so to get him back, and to get him back going well, it’s great,” O’Shea said.

“That was a good race and the race itself means a lot.”

O’Shea has been the co-trainer with Clarken for roughly 18 months and said Extremely Lucky was the best galloper in the stable.

“He’s the most quality horse that we’ve had, I think,” O’Shea said.

“He doesn’t have the best feet on him, so getting to the beach is good for him, but he has the potential to win something like this race one day.”

O’Shea said it was not ideal to be heading into a race like The Goodwood with just the one run back following a break.

The stable wanted to see how the sprinter came through his first-up run before a final decision was made on whether he starts.

“Will’s happy with him and the extra 100 metres won’t be a problem for him, but it’s going to be a different kettle of fish, a hard race,” O’Shea said.

“Ideally you wouldn’t be going into it second-up off a fresh-up run, but it’s hard not to have a go at it when it’s on your doorstep.

“He’s a quality horse and he beat some of the horses that will be in the market, so I suppose you have to have some hope for him.”