Satin Summer primed for winter racing action

The valuable experience Satin Summer gained towards the conclusion of her two-year-old season is anticipated to serve her well as she resumes racing in an off-peak event at Rosehill.

Under the guidance of Michael Freedman, a trainer known for his success with young horses, Satin Summer triumphed on debut in January, defeating Zambales, who subsequently finished runner-up in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes. Her subsequent start saw her finish fifth in the Lonhro Plate (1000m) behind Agrarian Girl.

Tim Clark is set to ride Satin Summer in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) on Saturday for the first time. After partnering the filly to a recent barrier trial victory, he believes her early racing maturity will be a significant asset against a field that includes Omolong, a promising debut winner from the Chris Waller stable.

"Yes, there are some nice horses coming through and Chris' horse won well at the midweeks, but she's in her second preparation and she'll be ready to go," Clark said.

"She is a pretty sharp type of filly. I had a sit on her Tuesday morning as well, and was very happy with her work.

"She is a really straightforward, easy sort of filly to do anything with. She knows her job, and she is well educated.

"I think she is going to look the winner at some stage in the straight."

The juvenile contest has attracted a strong lineup, spearheaded by Omolong, an $850,000 yearling purchase, and Kotor, an unbeaten two-trial winner from Bjorn Baker, who was also a $850,000 sale.

Clark's other mount is Mo Chroi, an import trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The four-year-old arrived in Australia following two starts in Ireland, which included a victory over middle distances.

Mo Chroi made a strong impression in his initial Australian outing, winning a 1550m race at Canterbury last month. Although Saturday's TAB Handicap (2000m) represents an increase in class, Clark is optimistic about the horse's potential to handle the challenge.

"Gai and Adrian seem to have a really good record at getting the imports ready to go first time out, generally over a bit further than what he ran in," Clark commented.

"It was good to see him be sharp enough and have that good tactical speed and be able to race on pace over a shorter journey.

"He's jumping in grade, and it wasn't a strong race at the midweeks, but he's getting out to the right distance, and soft ground won't be any concern."

For those keen on the TAB Handicap, comparing betting markets for the race at various online bookmakers could prove advantageous.