Bruno Bruno made it three wins from his last four starts with a hard-fought victory in the Shamrock Sprint (1300m).
Raymond Vigar’s mount began on terms from the inside gate, held the rail although attended by Galaxy General and Kessler, and found plenty when challenged in the home straight firstly by Atlantic Ocean and then by Hell Fire Miss.
He reached the line with three-quarters of a-length to spare from Hell Fire Miss, who finished off well, with Rhesus a good third just over a length back.
Bruno Bruno, trained by Tayarn Halter, was winning his sixth race at his 17th start, and was backing up from an impressive victory eight days previously. He has now collected $134,020 for his connections.
Halter and Vigar combined for a double later in the day when Tigers Roar broke through for his first win at Fannie Bay, at the fifth attempt, in the Dublin Dash.
Vigar sent his mount forward to lead from the outset of the 1100m and proved far too strong for his opposition, reaching the line three and a-half lengths clear of Rising Water, who finished off well from beyond midfield, with Viaconi a length and a-half away third.
Tigers Roar, a 5yo chestnut son of Jungle Cat, has won three of his 24 starts and now he has his first on the board in Darwin, further wins could be in store.
I Loverain (Paul Shiers/Deborah Barton) gave his rivals a galloping lesson in the Emerald Isle Handicap (1300m).
After setting fifth on the inner as Patyep and Divine Bene shared the pace, Barton angled her mount into the clear with about 400m to run and I Loverain quickly dashed around runners to challenge on the point of the home turn.
He sprinted well clear soon after and was untested to score by two and a-half lengths from Itwasonlyakiss, who ran on well, with Ankle Rolex just over a length back third.
I Loverain, a grey son of Ilovethiscity, was Shiers’ eighth winner for the season, and continued the good run of form being experienced by Barton, who rode a double last weekend at Alice Springs. She has now won 11 races in the Top End this season and sits fourth in the jockeys’ premiership.
Sassy Abbey (Phil Cole/Wayne Davis) went straight to the front in the Four Leaf Clover TROBIS Maiden Plate (1000m) and was not for catching, bolting clear over the concluding stages to score by almost four lengths from stablemate God’s Eye, with Lady Fireball close-up third.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole