Gary Clarke’s arsenal of sprinters for the $135,000 bet365 Palmerston Sprint swelled even further when Boldinho made a winning Top End debut in the AFA Insurance Brokers Handicap at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
The 5yo son of Brazen Beau, formerly trained by Ciaron Maher and with a record of six wins from 33 starts prior to Saturday, began well and took up a handy spot fifth behind the leading division headed by Cripps Tonite.
Adam Nicholls pushed him forward to be in a challenging position on the point of the home turn and he levelled up with the leaders soon after. Bahama Bay went with him and the pair waged a good home straight battle, with Boldinho getting the upper hand late to win by a half-neck.
Bahama Bay was a game second with Vinnie’s Spirit an eye-catching third ahead of Damo Dayz and Lumber Punk.
The favourite Bon’s Your Back got back in the field and was never really a factor.
Clarke said: “I thought he’d need the run today – he’s surprised me really. He’s going well and will only improve with that run under his belt.”
The Palmerston Sprint (1200m), to be run on 2 August, could feature a plethora of Clarke-trained sprinters, the likes of Flying Annie, Rising Sphere, Field Of Flutes, Lumber Punk, Seguso and now Boldinho all chances to take on the big short-course event in three weeks’ time.
Dick Leech, who was forced to scratch Alice Springs Cup winner Hasseltoff from the Chief Minister’s Cup, gained some consolation when The Final Word hung on gamely to score in the Arctic Installations Handicap (1300m).
With Sonja Logan in the saddle, The Final Word, who was well supported, trailed the leaders American Jazz and Black Zous and after hitting the front at the 200m mark, held off the late challenge of Super Famous by a head. Equal Balance finished off strongly along the inner to take third just over a length away.
The Final Word, who won his first two raceday starts in Alice Springs earlier this year, is a lightly-raced 5yo son of Rich Enuff. He has now won three of his five career outings and has stakes now of almost $47,000.
Dynamic Theory gave Logan her second win of the day – and a race-to-race double – when breaking his maiden in the PKF Merit Maiden (1200m).
Trained by Logan’s husband Tommy, Dynamic Theory began well, sat outside the leader Nature Girl and had Predicting for company out three-wide. Rounding Silks Corner, Logan asked her mount to extend and he kept finding in great style to repel fast-finishing No I’m Not by a length, with a half-neck back to Thank God I Gothim, who had every chance.
Dynamic Theory, a 3yo son of Pariah, is raced by a number of Logan stable supporters, including Jamie Dyer, leading greyhound trainer Steele Bolton and Darwin Turf Club facilities manager Ben Whitlock.
Miami Baby, after blowing the start and giving away a massive start, sprouted wings late to get up in the last stride in the Sunbuild Pty Ltd 3yo Handicap (1100m).
Ridden by Jason Lyon, who was lucky to stay aboard when his mount bungled the start and dipped badly, Miami Baby, from last on the home turn, descended to collar Forgetaboutit and Go Go Dolly on the line, the margins a half head and a short neck.
The son of Night Of Thunder was continuing the good run being experienced by his trainer Chloe Baxter, who of course saddled up Vanguard Legend to win the DCOH Darwin Guineas a week ago.
Lyon was in the winner’s enclosure for the second time when Unquestionably, trained by Neil Dyer, came from last in the Territory Isuzu Handicap (1600m) in a replica of the rider’s effort aboard Miami Baby.
After being allowed to find his feet early, Unquestionably was still at the rear with 450m to run, but Lyon knew what he had under him, angled his mount to the outer and the son of Not A Single Doubt stormed home to win impressively by a length from Kieffer, who also finished off well, with Grinzinger Bishop a short neck away third.
Unquestionably, who finished third in the NT Derby 12 months ago behind Masatora, is a decent stayer and his trainer will now press on to the $50,000 Buntine Handicap (2050m) next week in an attempt to win his way into the Great Northern Darwin Cup on August 4. The Buntine winner is exempt from the ballot for the Cup.
Alpha Street gave Nicholls his second win for the day when prevailing in a driving finish to the FRM Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Handicap (1000m).
He began well, led on the fence but with company from Hey Little Sister, and then fought on when challenged to score by a long neck from the unlucky Captain George, who could not get a run when required halfway down the straight, with Cyclonite a strong-finishing third a short neck back.
Alpha Street, a 3yo bay by Sir Prancealot, is owned and trained by Heather and Graham Lehmann, great supporters of the Darwin Cup Carnival each and every year. The Strathalbyn-based trainers love getting up to the Top End and enjoying the finer things in life, like sunshine and fishing!
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole