17/10/2026
Struck Gold, aided by a peach of a ride from Jess Booth, got the decision in a hotly contested PointsBet 5for25 Handicap, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
The Ella Clarke-trained sprinter, from an inside gate, began well from the 1100m start and shared the lead with Montjuic Magic, Flying Annie and Littlebourkestreet before Booth took a hold and dropped into the trail behind the leaders.
She was fourth across the top as Montjuic Magic and Flying Annie shared the pace, but Booth elected to stay tight to the inside rounding the home tum.
It was a four-horse war for the last 250m but Struck Gold shot through along the inner to assume control with 50m to run and was too strong for a game Littlebourkestreet, who did a great job from the outside gate, with Montjuic Magic third three-quarters of a-length back and just in front of Flying Annie.
Struck Gold, a 7yo son of Castledale, joined Clarke’s stable just over 12 months ago and has since had 13 starts for four wins, two seconds, five thirds and a fourth, finishing only once further back than fourth.
With his latest win, his seventh from 29 career starts, he took his stake earnings through the $200,000 barrier and continued the great run his trainer has enjoyed with sprinters in recent times, Wild Beau obviously her star tum.
Booth doubled up in the last of the day when combining with Biden Time, trained by Gary Clarke, to pick up a deserved win in the Book Melbourne Cup Day at DTC Handicap (1600m).
After beginning well and leading into the back straight, Biden Time was taken on and headed by Canggu, who crossed his rival to lead on the rail.
Approaching the tum off the back, Booth angled her mount to the outer of Canggu and the pair went to the home tum locked in battle, with New Enterprise and Miami Baby next.
Rounding the final tum, Biden Time took a narrow advantage and found a length on his opposition, which he held all the way to the line. New Enterprise battled gamely into second, and had a length to spare over Canggu, who fought on solidly.
Biden Time, who had been knocking on the door with two seconds from his last three starts, has now bagged five wins, three of them over 1600m, and five placings for stakes of $135,950.
King Akeed, a pick-up ride for Paul Shiers after Richard Bensley missed his flight from Sydney, proved too strong in the opener, the Airmaster Handicap (1300m).
Trained by Tommy Logan, King Akeed was first-up from a ten-week break and travelled well in the run, third behind the leaders Mr Marrakech and Time To Baca.
Shiers waited patiently until well in the straight before issuing his challenge aboard the 6yo son of Akeed Mofeed and although Mr Marrakech tried hard, King Akeed got his measure late to score by three-quarters of a-length. Time To Baca battled into third almost two lengths away.
King Akeed showed decent ability last campaign and he has now won four of his 23 starts, and with nine placings as well, has stakes of over $113,000.
Shiers bagged a double on a horse he trains when Rising Water, first-up since late May, finished too well for the odds-on shot Bold Suitor in the Regency Foods Handicap (1100m).
After Bold Suitor led and controlled proceedings, Jarrod Todd kicked him away early in the home straight and the Darwin newcomer looked to have a winnable advantage.
But Shiers and Rising Water had other ideas, finishing off strongly over the last 100m to collar Bold Suitor for a long neck victory. Ankle Rolex stormed home from a long way back in the run to take third, just over two lengths back.
Rising Water, a 6yo son of Headwater, is raced by Shiers’ wife Leola, Bedros Garske, Bruce Perry and Michael Treloar, and was winning his second race – and his first in Darwin – at his 23rd career outing. His stakes now stand at just over the $60,000 mark.
Shiers and Logan were again in the winner’s circle when Steamy Mist, having his first Top End start, led throughout to score in the Book Christman Party at Silks TROBIS Handicap (1000m).
Shiers, picking up his third win of the day and Logan his second, sent his mount straight to the front and the daughter of Headwater – the same sire as Rising Water – bounded clear round the home tum and set up a winning break.
Tears Are Flowing, after getting back in the run, hit the line strongly late but was still two and a-half lengths adrift of Steamy Mist, with Meet Me At The Bar, who chased the leader throughout, battling into third two lengths back.
Steamy Mist, formerly trained by Matt Laurie in Victoria, has only been in the Logan camp for a sho1i time but judged on her winning effort on Saturday, she could again be in the winner’s circle at any tick of the clock. She has now won three of her 13 starts and has stakes of almost $79,000.
Sass, in the hands of Scone-based horseman Billy Cray, tracked the leaders Charlie Magic and I’m A Dreamer in the Mitcon Projects Handicap (1600m) before clearing out in the final 100m to win by over three lengths.
I’m A Dreamer fought on doggedly to record his 12th second placing while Merimbula, after getting well out of his ground in the early and mid-stages, made up many lengths to take third just over four lengths back.
Trained by Chloe Baxter, Sass had won two starts previously over 1300m and at her third staii over 1600m, ticked that box with a strong effort.
Cray has ridden Sass at her last three starts for two wins and a second and obviously has a good rapport with the 5yo daughter of Bon Aurum, who has now won three of her 18 starts. And with a further six seconds and two thirds, her stakes have climbed now to $71,900.
Courtesy of Andrew O’Toole