Clark Steels for The Hunter assignment

Jockey Tim Clark will be carrying the hopes of a town when he links with Kris Lees to partner the only locally trained runner in Newcastle’s showcase race of the year.

With the scratching of Uzziah, Rustic Steel is the sole Novacastrian in Saturday’s The Hunter (1300m) as the gelding bids to give Lees his maiden win in the $1 million race following a trio of placings with Wandabaa (2021), Special Reward (2020) and Tactical Advantage (2019).

It will be Clark’s first ride on Rustic Steel, who will need to adjust to a 200m distance drop from his victory in the Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury on November 7.

“He won well at Hawkesbury, albeit over 1500, so he’s got to come back in distance,” Clark said.

“But he’s got a good draw (barrier three) and there could be good pressure in the race with Coal Crusher drawing wide and Phearson, if he begins well, has got good speed.

“They should make it a genuine tempo. He’s going to get a soft run just back off that and having that 1500 metre run, he’s going to be really strong at the back end of it if it is a hard-run 1300.”

Rustic Steel headlines a handy card of eight rides for the top jockey, who will also partner The Three Hundred for Tulloch Lodge trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) and Queensland Cup winner Nikau Spur in the Listed The Beauford (2300m).

The Three Hundred’s stablemate Ganbare also features on Clark’s book and he is hoping the stakes performer can revive his best form in the Alf Kneebone Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m) after a disappointing first-up effort.

Clark has trialled the horse since and wants to see him stand up and be counted at Newcastle.

“He didn’t do a lot there first-up and I thought he could have done a little bit more in his trial also,” Clark said.

“It has taken a bit of time to build his fitness.

“He’s a winner of the Dulcify (Stakes) and he ran well through that Spring Champion prep then came back and was close up (in fourth) behind Riff Rocket in that Rosehill Guineas.

“If he can get back to that form, it would make him very competitive in this race.”