SHINZIG'S MICK IS BACK

South Aussie trainer, Daniel Clarken, has had a big year. Huge!

The victory by Not a Single Doubt filly, Miracles of Life, in the 2013 Blue Diamond was a massive achievement by Clarken and his crew – one that is unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry.

But while Miracles of Life – deservedly – has garnered most of the kudos for the stable, Clarken has more than a soft spot for another member of his stable: Shinzig sprinter, Psychic Mick.

Prior to his return to racing – at Morphettville on 31 August – Clarken told media that “you don’t know how excited I am to have him (Psychic Mick) back … until the filly (Miracles of Life) came along, he was one of the most exciting horses I’ve ever put a saddle on”.

And while Clarken was satisfied with Psychic Mick’s second on resumption, he was over the moon with the 4YOs all-the-way victory over 1200m at Morphettville on Saturday.

It was vintage Psychic Mick : a welcome return to the winners’ circle for the Shinzig first cropper who won his first four (including the Listed Vain Stakes at Caulfield) before exiting the scene for over eight months for surgery to remove bone chips.

“When we won the Vain at Caulfield, Chris Symons got off and said he just didn’t handle the track … he won by three and a half,” Clarken adds. “I’ve got a big opinion of this horse.”