It has been a big week for Darwin trainer Ella Clarke.
Last Friday night, she was named as the 2025 Racing Woman of the Year in the combined WA/NT category at the Magic Millions Racing Women Awards dinner held at The Star Casino on the Gold Coast.
Launched last year, the function recognises the outstanding national success and achievements by women in the Australian thoroughbred industry.
“Meeting some of the biggest female names in racing, it was just an honour and exciting to share the room with them,” Clarke said.
Ella Baird from Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory nominated Clarke for the award, while TRNT chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole helped with her final presentation.
The 28-year-old heads home on Friday night to prepare for Saturday’s meeting at Fannie Bay.
Apart from attending to her horse Style And Grace, Clarke will also prepare Hazlewood, Global Wonder, American Jazz, Influential Jack, Change Is Coming and Bel Suono for her dad Gary.
Gary, the Top End and Country premiership’s leading trainer, and wife Sharlene arrived on the Gold Coast on Tuesday for the Magic Millions meeting on Saturday, as well as the horse sales.
Click here for HorseBetting’s full preview of Magic Millions Day 2025.
Ella hopes that former Victorian mare Style And Grace, a five-year-old by Impending, can make it three wins from seven starts when she takes on 0-64 opposition over 1300m.
“Style And Grace has gone quite well – she has only missed out on prizemoney twice,” she said.
“It’s a small field of six on Saturday, but there’s still speed in the race and there’s some good horses.
“American Jazz has found his feet again, he’ll be hard to beat.
“Tommy Logan is going for the hat-trick with Queen In The North – she’s one to beat as well.”
Kick-starting her training career on October 2, 2021, Ella had her first win at her next meeting three weeks later with Son Of Utred.
Since then, it’s been 23 wins and 32 minor placings from 100 starts at Fannie Bay.
Wild Beau, Pop Magic, Debating, Hotim English and Point Loma complete Ella’s stable.
Wild Beau broke the 1100m track record in December, Pop Magic won the $40,000 Wet Season Series Final (1200m) on Australia Day last year, and Debating starred as a three-year-old last season.
The young trainer had success on Darwin Cup Day in 2023 when Ironedge won the 2050m consolation race for horses that missed the Cup.
To be considered for the trophy and a $10,000 scholarship at the Magic Millions Racing Women’s big night, Clarke had to answer questions and stipulate how best she would spend her cash prize.
“I’ve been learning about the post-race recovery for horses in hot weather, I just wanted to develop my skills and knowledge,” she said.
“One thing I have been researching a lot was pulse therapy, I really want to go down that road.”
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