Bon’s Pride continued his ride through the ranks of the Top End’s best horses with an authoritative win in the Book Your Christmas Party Handicap, the feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

The son of Bon Aurum, trained by Jason Manning, jumped as favourite for the 1200m Benchmark 76 and after a tardy beginning settled down at the rear of the 6 -horse field.

The three Gary Clarke trained runners – Mr Cashman, Siakam and Doc O’Conner – led the field.

Tubthumper was next, while Vanessa Arnott aboard Bon’s Pride gradually improved her position to be fifth with just Early Crow behind him with 500m to run.

The Clarke trio led around the final bend but Arnott was right behind them and angled Bon’s Pride through the gap between Siakam and Doc O’Connor to challenge.

Siakam wouldn’t give it away but over the last 500m Bon’s Pride got his measure and came clear to win by a length and a quarter in a time of 1:08.82.

Siakam was a good second, while Tubthumper was doing her best work late to take third two lengths back and just a breath in front of Mr Cashman, who did a good job in his first start in more than 11 months.

Bon’s Pride, who is now a five-year-old, has been a revelation since being purchased for $22,000 by his connections at last years Magic Millions Darwin Tried Horse Sale held in early August.

He has raced 12 times for five wins and five seconds, and won the $50,000 Magic Millions Top End Classic on Cup Day.

His stake earnings now stand at just shy of $141,000.

Manning quipped: “I needed that – I spent $35,0000 at the Magic Millions Breeze -Up sales on the Gold Coast during the week!

“He has never taken a backward step this horse and Vanessa gave him a lovely ride after being the last to get going.”

Nassau County, a 24 start maiden, finally got his head in front when he downed stablemate Hazelwood in the Melbourne Cup Day 5th November Maiden Plate (1300m).

Clarke’s six year old son of American Pharoah had collected five seconds and five thirds before Saturday but with Jarrod Todd in the saddle he finished resolutely in the centre of the track from several lengths behind the leader King Waldo on the point of the turn.

At the line, he had a long neck to spare from Hazelwood, who came from many lengths last with 1000m to run, while Three Jacks, who was always handy to the speed, took third just under two lengths back.

Clarke and Todd doubled up in the last of the day, the Ladbrokes Hub Handicap (1000m), when favourite Patriotic King ran his rivals ragged to win by five and a half lengths.

After getting to the front after 1000m, Patriotic King had his opposition Gasping rounding the final turn and was never going to be caught.

Newcomer Seven Secrets did well to finish on into second and Miss Black Diamond was a half a length away in third.

Patriotic King, the 1100m track record holder at Fannie Bay, ran a slick 56.68 for his latest victory, his sixth from some 27 starts. He has five wins in the Top End and further four placings.

Hachiman, given a rails hugging ride by Stan Tsaikos, got on the board in Darwin at the fourth time of asking in the Ladbrokes Live Betting Handicap (1100m).

Trained by Neil Dwyer, Hachiman settled back second last on the inner as Daunting Decision made the pace and Tsaikos crept forward approaching the home turn.

He elected to stay close to the plastic rounding the bend and with Daunting Decision rolling off a touch, he was through in a flash.

Over the last 100m, he bounded well clear of his rivals to win by almost three and a half lengths from Ny Kee, who just held out Scudetto.

Story Courtesy of Andrew O’Toole