Conclave Prince, who showed such promise during his last campaign in the Top End, bounced back to winning form in the second heat of the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Series, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Trained by Phil Cole and with Wayne Davis in the saddle, the 5yo son of Written Tycoon trailed the leaders La Boqueria and Underhand throughout the 1200m and when presented early in the home straight, despite the topweight of 61kg, he wore down La Boqueria to score by a widening three-quarters of a length. Funnyifitwon was an eye catching third some two and a half lengths away.
At his first campaign in Darwin, Conclave Prince won twice, including during the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival, before finishing a meritorious fifth in the Palmerston Sprint won for the second time by Early Crow.
Saturday was his second start back this preparation, and judged on his gutsy winning effort, he looks to have plenty more in store for his connections Rhonda and Phil Cole and Michael Neumann. His overall record now stands at 16 starts for five wins, threes seconds and as third and he has stakes of $196,580.
Cole doubled up in the last of the day – and gave Sonya Logan a treble of wins on the program – when Lord Fenrir scored another narrow decision, this time over Siberian Larch, in the seventh heat of the Ladbrokes Wet Season Series (1100m).
Lord Fenrir had prevailed narrowly over stablemate Miami Vice at the December 28 meeting in Darwin, and repeated the dose, coming along the inner to get the victory by a short half head.
Siberian Larch tried hard after being on the pace throughout, while Kiss Kiss Kiss also showed plenty of heart to finish third and just a half a length back.
Queen In The North made it a hat trick of wins during December and January with a hard fought victory in the Shane Kavanagh Memorial Sprint (1300m).
The daughter of Headwater, after taking a dozen starts to break through for her first Top End win, has now put three together for trainer Tommy Logan and jockey wife Sonja.
Logan gave her mount a lovely ride in transit, third the fence behind pacemakers American Jazz and Moorestown, and followed the former through around the home turn.
She still had several lengths to make up but over the final 200m, Queen In The North really Knuckled down to collar American Jazz in the shadows of the post to win by a long neck, with Miracoli running on into third two lengths back.
“She has done a good job today and we’ll just give her a bit of a break now,” said trainer Logan. “She really likes that 1300m and being ridden with a sit, and Sonja gets on really well with her,” he saiud.
Bought by her trainer for $25,000 from the 2023 Darwin Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale, Queen In The North has now amassed stakes since then of just over $60,000, the result of three wins, four seconds, a third and three fourth placings.
The Logans were in the winners circle a little later in the day when a newcomer to their stable, Crown Waters, cleared out for an impressive win in the Silks Darwin TROBIS Handicap (1200m).
After being slightly slow into stride, Crown Waters was urged to go forward by her rider and took up a handy spot fourth behind thge pacemakers. Logan elected to stay to the inside and burst past On The Charge before bolting away to score by three and a half lengths. On The Charge held second by a length from Rhesus, who finished on down the track.
Carat Time, given a peach of a ride by Vanessa Arnott, broke his duck at the fourth time of asking in the Top End when getting up late to score in the Australia Day Racing on 25th January Maiden (1300m).
Allowed to find his feet during the run, Carat Time was still second last on the home turn, but Arnott angled her mount into the clear with about 150m to run and the son of Brazen Beau descended on No I’m Not and Miss Moov to win by a neck and a half length.
Carat Time, trained by Jason Manning, became the fourth individual winner from the 2024 Darwin Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale, joining O’Tycoon (2 wins), Down The Wicket and Rebellious Hope as winners from the sale to date. He cost connections $13,000 and has now amassed stakes of $23,750 since his purchase.
Story Courtesy of Andrew O’Toole