Influential Jack, who had been missing from the winner’s circle since June last year, bounced back to his best to narrowly beat Crazy Brave in Friday’s feature event at Fannie Bay, the bet365 Handicap.
One of three acceptors in the event for leading trainer Gary Clarke, Influential Jack, in the hands of Stan Tsaikos, finished strongly from just off the pace to down Crazy Brave by a neck with Prince Ruban two lengths back third.
Clarke’s team was cut back to two for the 1300m event when Mr Cashman’s rider, Adam Nicholls, struck his foot on the timing beam attached to the outside fence adjacent to the winning post when making his way to the start.
In obvious discomfort, Nicholls hobbled back to the jockeys’ room and was stood down for the remainder of the day. It is to be hoped that the popular hoop has not suffered a fracture as he is engaged to take the mount on pre-post favourite Seven Secrets in the $40,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup this week.
“I broke my wrist on St Pat’s Cup Day last year when I came off Tough Critic at the start and missed the ride on Wilsons Prom, who I’d won his last two races on,” Nicholls said.
“Wilsons Prom didn’t win but I’d hate to have to miss the mount on Seven Secrets.”
Now an eight-year-old, Influential Jack has not won his six races out of turn. He was having his 55th start on Friday and with nine seconds and nine thirds as well, has stake of just over $240,000.
There is a chance he may back up in the St Pat’s Cup (1600m), although stable foreman Sharlene Clarke was of the opinion the horse may be retired.
The Clarke team, in the absence of Gary who is in Alice Springs, went back-to-back when newcomer Straya Pride (Jarrod Todd) scored in the St Patrick’s Day Races 15th March Handicap (1200m).
Allowed to trail the leaders Jenadar and To The Point, Straya Pride had a good kick in the straight and proved too strong for the Stifmeister, who ran on well, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths with Global Wonder, who was slow into stride, a good half-head away.
Straya Pride, a seven-year-old son of Denman, was having his first start in the Top End and has won five of his 42 career starts. He is fairly lowly rated so further success could be in store.
Rhesus (Phil Cole/Wayne Davis), after a frustrating run of placings, finally saluted the judge again in the TAB Trobis Handicap (1300m).
After settling back in the field, Rhesus unleashed and fine sprint to run clear over the concluding stages to beat stablemate Bryce by three lengths with Super Defense running an improved race for third.
Rhesus, an attractive dark brown son of Lonhro, has picked two wins from 15 starts, five seconds and three thirds, and took his earnings to just over $80,000 and also picked up a further $5,000 for being TROBIS Qualified.
Just like the Clarkes, the Cole Team bagged a double when Two Times Twice, in the hands of Hannah le Blanc, stormed home stormed home to collar Beatification and favourite Physical Graffiti by a head and a short neck in the ROANT Handicap (1100m).
Having just his second outing, the son of Sir Prancealot got back in the field but sprinted hard for his third win from 17 starts.
And Brazen Bon made it three wins from four Top End starts with the most dominant display of the day in the seventh heat of the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Series (1100m).
Trained by Jason Manning and with vanessa Arnott in the saddle, Brazen Bon settled at the rear of the field before improving his position out wide from the 600m.
He was out in the centre of the track rounding the home turn but, over the final 200m, powered over the top of his rivals to win by 1 1/2 lengths from La Boqueria with Polarising a brave third.
The unlucky runner was Devils Delight, who got shutout of a rails gap at the 200m and did well to himself up to finish fourth.
A protest was lodged against La Boqueria which, not surprisingly, was upheld – La Boqueria was relegated to fourth with the third and fourth placegetters promoted a place.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole