ANDREW O’TOOLE

Courtesy of NT News

Paul Denton, riding in an amazing 40th successive Darwin Cup Carnival, was the toast of Fannie Bay on Saturday when guiding Anphina to a narrow win in the $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby (2050m) at Fannie Bay.

The veteran horseman, combining for the second straight year with trainer and great mate Kerry Petrick to take out the Blue Riband, collected his third Derby, having won his first way back in 1997 aboard Rocket Flight before scoring aboard Venting 12 months ago.

After beginning evenly, Anphina took up spot seventh on the fence and just inside Century Fox. Tubthumper, the Guineas winner, led and was pursued by Nouveau Marche, Fortis In Armis (three-wide), Grinzinger Bishop and Field Commander.

The order remained the same until the pressure went on with about 650m to run, but Tubtthumper still held sway from Nouveau Marche, with Grinzinger Bishop right in the party and Anphina awaiting a run behind the leader.

That run came just after straightening and Denton angled his mount to the outside of Tubthumper, with Grinzinger Bishop on the outer od the pair. The trio set down to fight out the finish and Tubthumper was the first to cry enough at the 150m mark, leaving Anphina and Grinzinger Bishop (Emma Lines) to go stride for stride to the line.

A long head was the winning margin, with Fierce Legend finishing on doggedly along the inner after coming from back in the field to take third almost three lengths back. Tubthumper was a gallant fourth ahead of Nouveau Marche and Iknowhatyiuredoing, who made up many lengths over the final stages…

Read full article on NT News website here Page 29.