Rising young Darwin trainer celebrates rare achievement

[Wandering Eyes]

Young Darwin trainer Ella Clarke with winning jockey Casey Hunter after the pair combined to seal victory with Cisalpine at Fannie Bay last Friday.

The name Clarke continues to grab the headlines in the Northern Territory.

Only this time it’s Ella Clarke, not Gary Clarke – her dad – the 10-time Top End and Country premiership trainer.

Ella, a rising young Darwin trainer, has been on cloud nine all week after posting her first winning double at Fannie Bay last Friday.

With Top End-based jockey Casey Hunter in the saddle, Cisalpine and Eurellydidit were victorious to make it five wins from 23 starts for the 26-year-old trainer.

Having worked for her father for many years, Ella made her training debut in Darwin on October 2, 2021, when Son Of Utred finished second in an 1100m maiden.

Backing up three weeks later, Son Of Utred, who was a four-year-old gelding at the time, was victorious in a 1300m maiden with leading jockey Jarrod Todd, the No.1 stable rider for Gary, in the saddle.

Son Of Utred is now racing in Queensland, but all three horses in Ella’s yard – Pop Magic, Cisalpine and Eurellydidit – have all had success.

The passing of Ella’s brother Guy in late 2021 understandably impacted the entire Clarke family, including Ella, who admitted that she is finally back on her feet and is showing a new-found commitment towards training.

A first up win as a trainer is something not easily forgotten, so you can only imagine how Ella felt after claiming her first double.

“The feeling was the same as my first winner – it was quite a thrill,” she said.

“I wasn’t expecting to get two out of two on the day, but I definitely knew that Cisalpine and Eurellydidit had the ability.”

Cisalpine, a four-year-old gelding, and Eurellydidit, a five-year-old gelding, both worked hard in the home straight before sneaking home over 1300m (0-58) and 1600m (0-64), respectively.

It was Clarke’s second win with Cisalpine after he won a 1300m maiden in early February, while it was a debut win for Eurellydidit after Pop Magic, a four-year-old gelding these days, got the cash in an 1100m maiden last June.

“I was so happy with Cisalpine and then I was sort of wondering if I could do two out of two with Eurellydidit, and yeah, I got it, so I was pretty happy with both of them really,” Clarke said.

“They couldn’t have been ridden any better either by Casey.”

It came as no surprise that Gary, a proud father, who has taken a team to Alice Springs for the Cup Carnival, which starts this weekend, rang Ella after the two wins.

“Yeah, he was probably the first one to call me after both of them won,” she said.

“I’m looking after his horses, as well as mine while he is in Alice – it keeps me very busy.

“Mum (Sharlene) is still very hands on as well – she and I, as well as a couple of other staff are running the show here in Darwin while dad and Holly Meeks, who has been working for us for a few years now, are away.”

Ella, who also works at a pet shop, is looking to start Cisalpine and Eurellydidit at the next Darwin meeting on April 14, and hopes to bring back Pop Magic as well for his first start since last July.

“Cisalpine and Eurellydidit are going pretty strong, so they will continue their prep,” she said.

“Pop Magic, he will probably step out as well as there’s races for each of them on that day.”

Over the years, Ella has watched on and celebrated on the occasions her dad has won feature races during the Darwin Cup Carnival, so does she dare to dream about having a starter this year.

“I’ll just see how I go, really, but yeah, it would definitely be a thrill,” she said.

“That’s a lot harder competition at that time, but having a good horse overcomes half the battle.”

Finally, Clarke was pleased that Hunter, who is currently based in the Red Centre for the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, made the trip for the most recent Darwin meeting.

“Everyone is sort of in Alice at the moment, so I asked her early on if she was able to fly up and she ended up picking up a few other rides that day as well,” she said.

“It’s always good when jockeys get winners as well if they’re making that trip up.

“I’m happy for Casey.”

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