Boldhino, as expected, proved far too strong for his rivals in the Sportsbet Handicap, the feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Giving trainer the second leg of a double, and in the hands of Jarrod Todd, Boldhino with 62kg on his back over the 1100m, trailed his stablemates Pharoah Magic and Field Of Flutes to the Silks turn, peeled three wide on straightening and after a brief battle, assumed control.
He came clear over the concluding stages to register his third win in the Top End at just his fifth start, scoring by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Field Of Flutes, who fought on gamely, with Pharoah Magic just under two lengths back third.
A fine fifth in the Palmerston Sprint on Day 7 of the Darwin Cup Carnival, Boldhino has since raced three times for a close second to Feild Of Flutes and two impressive wins both in good time. The six-year-old son of Brazen Beau is putting together a first-class record, and his latest win was his ninth at his 38th career start, and with eight placings as well, he has stakes now of more than $486,000.
Villa Royale continued her outstanding run of form since coming to Darwin with a narrow win in the TAB TROBIS Handicap (1200m)
Nowadays trained by Clarke – she was earlier prepared by Alex Rae at Cranbourne – and with Hannah Le Blanc in the saddle, Villa Royale did the chasing behind tearaway leader Tigers Roar, collared that runner soon after turning for home, and then had enough in reserve to repel the fast finishing Signor Bill by a long head. July was a game third.
A five-year old mare by Impending, Villa Royale had 17 starts before coming to Darwin, and although placed on 11 occasions, had failed to gain that elusive win.
She did so at the first time of asking at Fannie Bay on August 2 and has since had three further starts for two wins and a close second.
With her latest success, her third from 21 starts, she took her stake earnings to $117,212.
Le Blanc doubled up later in the day when scoring aboard pick-up ride Polarising for trainer Tommy Logan in the Ladbrokes Quick Multi Handicap (1000m).
Originally the mount of Dakota Gillett, who unfortunately was stood down by paramedics after a barrier incident aboard Go Barney Go in the first race, Polarising had a ready a ready-made replacement in Le Blanc, who has ridden regularly for Logan in recent times.
After Starspangledancer and Debating shared the lead to the final turn, Polarising, who had trailed the pair throughout, dashed past her rivals and was untested to score by four-and-half lengths from Real Divine.
Polarising had failed to fire during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival, but the capable mare was right back to her best on Saturday, and took her stake earnings through the six figure barrier with her fourth win at her 26th start.
Merchant Delight provided rider Deborah Barton with her first Fannie Bay winner, and her second in a short career, when holding on to score by a half-head in the day’s opener, the bet365 Handicap (1300m).
Barton sent Merchant Delight to the front from the outset and he defied his rivals to run him down.
Carat Time dashed home late but just failed to pick up the winner.
Barton, who rode two winners on the picnic circuit in NSW last year, relocated to Darwin and handful of months ago and signed on as an apprentice with Merchant Delight’s trainer Phil Cole.
She won her first race as an apprentice just last Sunday aboard Super Sharp at Alice Springs, and looks to have a brioght future in the saddle.
Cole bookended the program, sending out three runners in the Vale Leanne Hartley Handicap (1000m) and picking up the quinella courtesy of Frawley and Oakland Raider.
Frawley, a lightly-raced son of Written Tycoon, has now won three of his 12 starts and has stakes of just over $81,000.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole