Dan Clarken is eyeing another significant juvenile win as Bootlegger lines up for Saturday’s Group 3 SA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.

Clarken, a Group 1 Blue Diamond-winning trainer, knows what it takes to win these features, having prepared Steel Trap to win the David Coles Stakes earlier this season alongside training partner Oopy McGillivray.

Bootlegger, by Too Darn Hot, showed sharp improvement to break his maiden in dominant style at Gawler, and Clarken believes the gelding has made further progress since.

“He hasn’t gone backwards at all,” Clarken said. “Some horses can need a break, but he’s thrived and actually put on weight. He’s toughened up with that run.”

“There’s still more to come, he’s not there in the coat yet, and that’s exciting.”

Clarken says the race sets up well for Bootlegger and doesn’t see any standouts in the field. “It’s a good opportunity, I don’t think it’s an elite group,” he said. “He’s versatile—can race forward or settle off them—so we’ve got options.”

The gelding has shown talent from early on but needed time to mature physically. “He kept getting shin sore, just needed to strengthen up,” Clarken said. “But he’s always had gears and is really coming into his own.”

“Steel Trap was ready earlier, she’s tougher, but in terms of natural talent, there’s not much between them.”

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