Capitol Hill, the recipient of a picture-perfect ride by Jason “Hip Hop” Lyon, repelled the challenge of stablemate Vanguard Legend to score a memorable 1-2 result for trainer Chloe Baxter in the $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Racing in the black, green stars and striped sleeves of the late Rod Dyer, whose son Jamie shares in the ownership with Baxter, Capitol Hill denied his stablemate the $50,000 DCOH Darwin Double for any horse that could win both the Guineas and the Derby.
Nevertheless, it was impossible to wipe the smile off Baxter’s face as she celebrated her biggest training success and her fifth of the Carnival so far.
Baxter, who trained her first winner, First Crusade, a little over three years ago, had previously sent out a feature winner at the Carnival, He’s The Ultimate winning the Metric Mile for her in 2023.
But with the 2025 Guineas and Derby quinella, as well as a Rosebowl win on Ladies’ Day with Hell Fire Miss, she continues to scale new heights in her chosen profession.
Capitol Hill, a dark brown gelded son of Prized Icon and Yankee Eyes, began well from barrier five and Lyon dropped him onto the fence to secure a lovely trail behind the pacesetters Bollon, Dream Baby and Bruno Bruno.
Star Casino made a mid-race move but it was short-lived, and as the field passed the 500m mark, it was clear that Capitol Hill had plenty left to offer. He had been tracked throughout by Vanguard Legend and soon after rounding the home turn, the pair set down to fight it out.
But Vanguard Legend, try as he might, could not bridge the gap to his stablemate and with Lyon urging his mount along, Capitol Hill held the advantage to the line.
He scored by a length and three-quarters from a game Vanguard Legend, with over four lengths back to Dream Baby, who went a fine race for third. Bollon stuck on to take fifth and The Men Went Home, who loomed into the picture with about 450m to run, was next to cross.
Capitol Hill has now won three of his 14 starts and has certainly taken a great liking to the Fannie Bay surface. His trainer pulled the right rein by missing the Guineas but winning the consolation on Day 1, and Lyon was confident he was on the right horse.
“His win on the first day was really good and I thought he’d be very hard to beat over this trip,” said Lyon. “I was confident throughout and he stayed the distance strongly. Credit to Chloe and her team,” added the popular hoop, who is now on the heels of the Carnival’s leading rider, Adam Nicholls, who has seven wins to Lyon’s five after four of the eight days.
Capitol Hill, with the $89,100 first prize, took his earnings to $145,223 and the attractive gelding has plenty more in store judged on his Derby performance.
Cacofonix, having recently found his way to the Top End after being purchased for $9,500 by co-owner Dave Gremmo out of the late May Inglis online auction, guaranteed himself a place in this year’s $200,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup on the first Monday in August with a hard-fought win in the Buntine Handicap (2050m).
The 6yo bay gelding, as a 3yo, was a near-$1m buy by Australian Bloodstock after winning two of his four starts in New Zealand. He went to Kris Lees at Newcastle, then had a period with Daniel Bowen at Lismore and Tony and Maddy Sears at Toowomba, before entering the stable of Gary Clarke.
His Buntine start was his third in Darwin and after a sixth and a fourth, the step up to a middle-distance was obviously to his liking as he out-toughed He’s Maverick and Unquestionably in a slog to the finish of the feature.
Ridden by Adam Nicholls, who had earlier won on Pharoah Magic, Cacofonix was sent to the front early before being headed by Step Forward with a round to go. He then trailed and settled well as the field made their way down the back straight before Saccharo put some pressure into the race at the 1000m mark.
The race began to change complexion from that point on, but Nicholls maintained his spot just behind the leaders before Unquestionably chimed in out deeper.
Rounding the home turn, Unquestionably took over but was quickly pursued by He’s Maverick and Cacofonix, who was squeezed slightly before gaining clear running in the centre.
Over the final stages, Cacofonix proved the superior stayer, staving off a brave He’s Maverick by a half-length, with Unquestionably a short head back after having every chance.
Cacofonix, a son of Dundeel from Lodore Falls, is raced by Schooner Racing, managed by Gremmo, along with trainer’s wife Sharlene, who has the majority shareholding.
She said: “He’s been a bit of a problem child, but he put it altogether today. He’ll take his place in the Cup now and who knows?”
Cacofonix has now won five times from 29 starts, and his stakes now stand at $146,927.
Valkur, trained by Heather Lehmann at Strathalbyn in South Australia, provided Jarrod Todd with a second win on the day when finding a needle eye gap close to the finish of the SignCity Handicap (1100m).
The Lehmanns, Heather and Graham, and Todd are great friends and “JT” will be even more popular with the couple after his latest top ride.
In a competitive affair with four runners – Just For Marcus, Cyclonite, Starton and Tilussion – vying for the lead from the outset, Todd settled Valkur just behind that quartet and stayed tight to the inside around the home bend.
Just For Marcus soon after had the measure of Cyclonite, but Todd kept persisting along the inner and in the last few strides, his persistence paid off as there was just enough room to sneak through and score by a short neck.
Cyclonite was a game third, with Starton, who was wide throughout, a meritorious fourth.
Valkur was winning his second race at his 27th career start, and the 4yo daughter of Valentia now has stakes of $70,400.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole