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Jockey Tim Clark sees in-form mare Osmose’s Group 1 assignment at Randwick on Saturday as a challenge but he says she’s hitting her biggest test in career best form.
It's far from foreign territory for Tim Clark to combine with a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott import to claim the Group 1 $1 million Grainshaker Vodka Queen Of The Turf Stake (1600m) – they did it with Con Te Partiro in 2020.
Osmose didn't quite hit the ground running as that mare did when she arrived in Australia but Clark feels on the back of her breakthrough win in the Epona three weeks ago there's a sense of timing about her.
That was over 1900m but he said with blinkers going on the return to the Randwick mile suits.
"She's going well, she's had a good preparation so far winning the Epona last start,'' Clark said.
"Because she's early on in her preparation she will handle it, she was only second-up the other day and she's thriving at the moment too.
"So back in trip with the blinkers on is going to be a good recipe for her."
The five-year-old was run down by Lekvarte in the Aspriation over the Randwick mile when resuming but Clark was always in control in the Epona.
It's encouraging from Clark's perspective that Osmose, $21 with TAB on Wednesday, is coming off a strong win.
"She's missed a few times through being a bit unlucky and circumstances, narrowly missed in the Matriarch, so she was knocking on the door,'' he said.
"Even first-up we probably just needed to build momentum a bit sooner and she probably wins.
"So it was good to see her get a win, I think she's going better than she's gone in her previous two preps. Against the top class is obviously a challenge for her but she's going really well."
There's a significant question mark from all concerned around Serpentine's ability to run a strong two miles but Clark says the set up in the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) might work in his favour.
The seven-year-old, a runaway winner of the Epsom Derby back in 2020, has tried the 3200m three times plus 4010m once, and is yet to be placed but with two wins at 2000m this preparation he brings freshener legs.
"There's debate about whether he's a genuine two miler but he's going into the race in as good form as he can,'' Clark said.
"If he can't do it on Saturday we'll find out where he's at because he's in great condition, he's airborne.
"He's had a few goes at two miles and failed but there's less miles under his belt which may be a good thing because he does like being on the fresh side."
A trademark of Serpentine's wins in the Randwick City Stakes and Neville Sellwood Stakes has been his ability to respond to a threat and fight back.
"He seems to be a horse that loves being challenged, he always seems to have something in reserve,'' Clark said.
Meanwhile, a return to Randwick and a forgiving surface has Clark quietly confident C'est Magique has a good chance to finally post her second career win in the Group 2 $300,000 Sapphire Stakes (1200m).
Placings in the Triscay and Wenona Girl were followed by an out of character ninth in the Birthday Card at Rosehill, won by subsequent TJ Smith Stakes winner Chain Of Lightning, where Clark had to go back from a wide gate.
"She didn't step and got into a bad spot, nothing went right for her,'' he said.
"Her first two runs were fantastic, forgive the other day. Back to Randwick with a bit of cut in the track will be better for her and blinkers go on so she gets her chance to redeem herself."
