Yassy out to cause upset in the big smoke

3 minute read

Popular trainer Yassy Nishitani will have his first Victorian metropolitan starter when three-year-old filly Clara Karen tackles the Group 2 Edward Manifold (1610m) at Flemington on Saturday.

It is fair to say that the filly is ambitiously placed off the back of a fourth-place finish in a Devonport maiden, but the trainer says he has always had an opinion of the horse and the spacious Flemington circuit made Saturday's race a viable option.

"She finished off well the last 200m the other day and we thought she needed a longer straight or a bigger track," Yassy Nishitani said on the filly who did have the fastest final 200m sectional from Devonport stridemaster data on 12 September.

"I know this is a huge jump in class and we don't know what we are up against, but it will give her a nice experience," the trainer added.

Nishitani picked out Clara Karen at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, paying $42,500 to secure the purchase.

"When I bought her, she was 470kg already and this time in she's 540kg so she's a big filly," Nishitani said.

Bendigo also filled the criteria for Nishitani of a big track with a long straight which is why Clara Karen was nominated there on Sunday, but the trainer confirmed she will take her place at Victorian racing headquarters where she has drawn gate 1 with former Tasmanian jockey Jason Maskiell taking the ride.

"I didn't want to have barrier one because she can be a bit slow out and needs room, but we have a good jockey on," Nishitani said.

A $301 chance for Saturday's race with Ladbrokes, Nishitani confirmed that races such as the 1000 Guineas and Tasmanian Oaks will be targets for Clara Karen during the Tasmanian Summer Carnival.

After filling two of the three trifecta spots in the Group 2 Let's Elope on 11 September, Tasmanian-trained mares Mystic Journey and Still A Star are firmly in the mix for another feature race when they compete in the Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1410m) on the Flemington program.

Following her eye catching first-up second placing, Mystic Journey is the early $4.40 favourite for the race with Still A Star not far behind in the market at $7.50.

Both mares are on a path to the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m) to be run at Flemington on 30 October.