Clark's fine form rewarded

By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - Tim Clark's recent winning form for Darley has been rewarded with the jockey retaining the plum ride on Parables in the Group Two Furious Stakes at Randwick.

With Darley's number one rider Kerrin McEvoy out of action in recent months with a back injury, Clark rode Obsequious to win the San Domenico Stakes (1000m) on August 7 and Parables to win the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 21.

"He's filled in two spots when we couldn't get anyone and he's done a great job, so we reward him with the good ride again on Saturday," trainer Peter Snowden said.

Parables will be joined in the second leg of the Princess Series by stablemate Divorces who resumes from a spell.

While Parables is being aimed at the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) in Sydney via the Furious (1400m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1500m), Divorces, to be ridden by Josh Parr, is set to head to Melbourne after her first-up run.

Snowden said the rise to 1400m looked ideal for Parables who jumped out of the ground to win the Silver Shadow first-up against a quality field.

The daughter of Lonhro made up many lengths to reel in Solar Charged, winning by a length running away.

"It surprised me how easy she won because in my mind she's not fully wound up, but it didn't surprise me at all that she won," Snowden said.

He said Parables' ability to reel off a blistering final sectional was her biggest asset.

"I think the finish she's got, that's what most horses haven't got," he said.

"She's got the ability to relax really well in races and has a really good turn of foot. How far that goes, time will tell.

"Sometimes you get to seven (furlongs, 1400m) or a mile (1600m) and that's not there when you get to that distance, so it's just a matter of seeing what happens now when she gets to those trips."

Divorces is still a maiden after five starts but ended her two-year-old career with a Group One minor placing in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) and has impressed Snowden in two recent barrier trials.

"I've been very happy with her," Snowden said.

"I don't know that she'll beat Parables but she'll be very competitive."

Divorces has always indicated she would appreciate getting over further and Snowden said a decision on whether the filly headed to the VRC Oaks would be made later.

"Her third run is the Thousand Guineas, the fourth run maybe the Wakeful Stakes and then we'll see what happens," he said.

Stablemate Purple will run in Saturday's Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) after producing an eye-catching fourth first-up in the Warwick Stakes (1400m).

The five-year-old takes on a strong weight-for-age field headed by multiple Group One winners Theseo and Metal Bender.

Snowden expects another good showing but won't be surprised if Purple isn't as sharp second-up.

"But I know in my mind that she's back where she was as a three-year-old," he said.

Purple was a dual Group One winner of the Queensland Oaks and Storm Queen Stakes at three.

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