Second To Nun continued an amazing 2024 when she upstaged her more fancied rivals to win the $120,000 Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes at Morphettville on the weekend.
The Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea-trained mare has won seven of 13 starts this year but none more significant than Saturday when she was given a perfect ride by Kayla Crowther.
“She’s a fantastic horse,’’ Clarken said.
“She’s come a long long way in a short amount of time
“She was inches close to going online (sale).
“I’ve never had a horse accumulate prizemoney as quickly without winning a decent race like she has,’’ he said.
In those 13 starts Second To Nun has amassed more than $330,000 in prizemoney.
The mare will now be the stable’s leading seed as they chase a third successive Balaklava Cup next month.
“I’ve got an obsession with the Balaklava Cup,’’ Clarken added.
“We’re looking for three on the bounce and we’ll have them all tuned up and ready for it,’’ he said.
Strathalbyn horseman John MacMillan had a training double with Aiguilette and Commander Meroo both successful while Jake Toeroek took riding honours.
Toeroek won the opening race aboard The Golden Fist for the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable before claiming the first leg of the quaddie on Commander Meroo for MacMillan.
