Anson Bay, adorned in the sponsors’ colours, overcame the outside draw to score a heart-stopping win in the $45,000 Dabble Cup, feature event at Fannie Bay on Day 6 of the Darwin Cup Carnival on Wednesday.

Giving trainer Chris Nash his fifth winner of the Carnival and jockey Richard Bensley his sixth, Anson Bay showed admirable fighting qualities to down a game Rossanado after enduring a torrid run in transit.

Backing up from an unlucky third to Zourata last Saturday when he was slow to jump, Anson Bay began better this time but with plenty of speed underneath him, was forced to race four-wide the trip as Genetic Freak led the way pursued on his outer by Rossanado, Time To Baca (three-wide), Princess Pancakes and Shisuta Bo.

Bensley didn’t panic and just kept his mount balanced as he edged closer to the lead towards the home turn, at which point Rossanado claimed Genetic Freak for the lead.

But Anson Bay, out in the centre of the track, kept on coming and refused to yield, getting in the deciding three strides to deny Rossanado by a long head. Bon’s Your Back finished off well to take third two and three-quarter lengths away, with Genetic Freak a good fourth ahead of Shisuta Bo.

Anson Bay, formerly trained by Tony Gollan in Brisbane, joined the Nash stable in early April and has since raced on five occasions in Darwin, for two wins, two seconds and a third.

Nash said: “He’s got a motor, there’s no doubt about that. He had to be good to win today and I thought he’d hit the wall at the 100m after the run he had. But he just kept on fighting.”

Tamworth, NSW-based Bensley, having a whale of a time in the Top End, was equally effusive: “We were stuck on a limb and just had to stay there. But when I asked him to put in on straightening, he dug deep and all credit to the horse.”

Anson Bay, a rising 5yo son of Written Tycoon and Commands mare Awasita, has now won four of his 16 starts and with three seconds and a third, has stakes now of $120,295.

He is raced by a predominantly Territory syndicate including Justin Coleman, Rob Blenkinship, Shane Dignan, Mick Burns, Brooke David, Gary Coleman and Hi Viz Racing, along with Lyndon Brill and  Craig Thomas of NSW.

Anson Bay is the first emergency in the $150,000 bet365 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on Saturday, and should he gain a start, Nash is of a mind to run him.

“Look at him,” said the trainer. “He’s pulled up a treat and wouldn’t blow a candle out. So we’ll see what happens in the next day or two.”

Rossanado, stepping up in grade from her Rosebowl win on Day 2 of the Carnival, lost no admirers with her effort.

“She went great,” said trainer-rider Paul Shiers. “She’s done us proud and was just beaten by a better one on the day.”

Littlebourkestreet justified her solid support with a dashing win in the Dabble – You Better Believe It Handicap (1100m).

Trained by Shiers and with Deborah Barton in the saddle, the daughter of Ilovthiscity began on terms with her four rivals, and there was plenty of pressure into the first corner at the 650m mark, with Real Valentia a few lengths astern.

Littlebourkestreet was given her head with 450m to run and she kicked well clear around the home turn, and was not for catching, reaching the line almost six lengths to the good of Down The Wicket, who tried hard along the inner, with Real Valentia finishing off into third a short neck away.

It was Shiers’ second win of the Carnival, while Barton, riding at her first Carnival, has also been in the winner’s enclosure twice.

Littlebourkestreet has now won twice from 16 starts, and with no less than six seconds and two thirds, her stakes are almost $85,000.

Cavendish continued the fine run of form of trainer Dick Leech and apprentice Jade Hampson with a strong win in the Dabble Copy Bet Handicap (1200m).

After beginning well, Cavendish was dropped in to trail the leaders Cap Ten, Galaxy General and The Final Word, and Hampson angled her mount out four-wide on the point of the home turn to find clear galloping room.

The 4yo son of Capitalist let down in good style and looked set for an easy win, but Limited Risk and If I Was You finished off in good style, the margins just a half neck and a head.

Cavendish has only had eight lifetime starts and has now picked up three wins, two seconds and a third. With the $18,425 for his latest win, his stakes now stand at just over $66,000.

Leech and Hampson doubled up later in the day when Entrapment, having her first start in the Top End, proved a cut above her rivals in the Dabble Rebound TROBIS Maiden (1300m).

After beginning well, Entrapment shared the lead with Fabres and Saxon Beach, before Fabres dropped off before the home turn. Just when it looked as though Saxon Beach might make a race of it with the leader, Entrapment bolted away at the 200m and was over five lengths clear at the line.

Saxon Beach fought on solidly to take second, a half-length clear of Forever A Diamond and D’Ambidex.

Entrapment, a daughter of Star Witness, was purchased by Leech at the Inglis late May online sale for $25,000. And with her first win, she recouped almost that amount, the $18,425 stake and $5,000 TROBIS resulting in a return of $23,425.

It was Leech’s seventh win of the Carnival, placing him second and just one win behind Gary Clarke on the trainers’ premership, while Hampson also took her winning tally to seven, and trailing just Jarrod Todd (9) in the jockeys’ race.

Biden Time (Clarke/Todd) led throughout to score a deserved win in the Dabble Rocket Handicap (1600m).

After beginning well from barrier seven, Biden Time assumed control with about 1100m to run from Mr Jones. The pair went together to the home turn, at which point Garrix had improved to be on their hammer.

With 300m to run, Biden Time still led but Garrix looked the main danger, only for the leader to find a good kick and scoot clear late to win by three and a-half lengths. Garrix held second clearly from stablemates Girls Girls Girls and Mummsie.

Biden Time was having his third start in the Top End and has now won four times during his 19-start career. His stakes stand at just over $109,000.

Stomp’Em (Kym Healy/Jade Doyle) made it back-to-back wins during the Carnival with a hard-fought victory in the Dabble Does Darwin Handicap, the second division of the 0-58 1600m.

After beginning well from a handy barrier, Doyle took her mount to the front, slowed the pace and then had Machine Man and The Accelator for company. This trio went together to close to the home turn, but Stomp’Em was clearly travelling the better, shot clear and defied his rivals to run him down.

He had a length margin to spare at the line from Hopeless Romantic, who finished off well, with Faberge Tzar third a long neck away.

Stomp’Em, a son of Sir Prancealot, won here on 18 July and looks a nice prospect for connections. He has now won three times from just nine starts, and took his earnings to $73,335 with his latest victory.

Southampton Flare came from last on the home turn to surge between runners for a memorable win in the Dabble Pick’Em Handicap (1100m).

Predicting set a fast tempo pursued by Order Online and All Inclusive, while Jason Lyon on Southampton Flare bided his time at the rear and many lengths off the pace.

Rounding the home turn, Predicting still led but soon after Order Online, who was inclined to hang outwards across the top and rounding the final corner, collared him and looked set for success.

But the race changed complexion over the final 50m as Lyon charted a path between runners and dived to the inside of Order Online in the last few strides to win by a half-length. Forgetaboutit rocketed home in the centre of the track to take second, with Order Online holding on for third a short neck back.

Trained by Chloe Baxter, Southampton Flare had not had a start since 23 May and the son of I Am Invincible was most impressive. It was his second win from six starts at Fannie Bay, and the former million-dollar plus yearling might just be starting to mature as a rising 5yo.

Story courtesy of Andrew O’Toole