Magic Defense delivered the knockout blow to win a thrilling Asian United Food Service Chief Minister’s Cup at Fannie Bay on Saturday, and in the process, kept the $100,000 Ladbrokes Territory Treble bonus alive for her connections.
Giving Alice Springs trainer Kerry Petrick her third win in the Chief Minister’s Cup – she saddled up He’s Here and Shout Out Loud to win in 2009 and 2010 respectively – Magic Defense, with Stan Tsaikos in the saddle, begun well from the outside draw of 12 and followed Dakota Lee across as the field swung into the back straight.
Dakota Lee and Wolfburn were the first pair but Tsaikos was able to track them and passing the 1150m mark, he had Magic Defense third on the fence in a tremendous piece of riding. Vega Magnifico was next with Crown Waters and Hadouken making up the first half-dozen.
Dakota Lee assumed full control passing the 1100m and set up a decent lead of three or four lengths from Wolfburn and Magic Defense. Down the side, Magic Defense went out after Dakota Lee and early in the home straight, took over and looked set for victory.
But as she always does, Dakota Lee kept finding on the inner and with Wolfburn there as well, a grandstand finish loomed.
With 50m to go, Magic Defense was clinging to the lead with Dakota Lee trying her heart out, and then the fast-finishers Casino Seventeen and Stormageddon joined in and the first four hit the line with less than three-quarters of a-length separating them.
Magic Defense prevailed by a long head from a game Dakota Lee, who lost nothing in defeat, with Casino Seventeen storming home between runners to be just a nose away third.
Stormageddon, who ran out of room in the concluding stages, was just a half-length away fourth, with Wolfburn, Crown Waters and Komachi close up next – less than three lengths covered the first seven! It certainly augurs well for a tremendous Darwin Cup just over three weeks’ time.
A delighted Petrick said: “What a thrill to be alive in the Territory Treble going into the Darwin Cup! It is so satisfying – we bought this horse as a nine-start maiden and look what she’s done.”
Magic Defense, who won the Alice Springs Cup to set up the Territory Treble tilt, will not have another run before the $220,000 Great Northern Darwin Cup (2050m) on the first Monday in August.
“She doesn’t need the practice – we’ll just keep her happy and hopefully in one piece and the rest will take care of itself,” said Petrick.
Tsaikos, riding his first Chief Minister’s Cup winner, said: “She’s absolutely flying this mare – we managed to get into a tremendous spot and then she just wouldn’t give in. It’s great to win for Kerry and the other owners.”
Magic Defense, a 5yo daughter of National Defense and Magic Water, has now won 10 of her 36 starts, and with nine seconds and six thirds, took her stake earnings to $305,950. She is raced by Petrick and partner Gordon Simmons, along with Jeffrey Meyer, Darwin Turf Club Chair Carol Need, Dominic Kerr, Rohan McDonald and Donna-Marie Grieve.
Anson Bay continued the superb start to the Carnival being experienced by his trainer Chris Nash and rider Richard Bensley with an impressive win in the day’s opener, the Arctic Installations Handicap (1300m).
Nash and Bensley have now combined for a winner at each of the first three days of the Carnival – Maxxi Bon won on Day 1 and Rematch took out the Rydges Palmerston Cup on the second day.
After beginning on terms with his rivals, Anson Bay was slotted into a nice position behind the leader Limited Risk, with Starzam on his outer.
He moved alongside Limited Risk early in the home straight and came clear under strong urging to win by almost four lengths, with Hotim English running on from the rear to take third a length and a-half behind Limited Risk.
Anson Bay, a strongly-made chestnut son of Written Tycoon, has now won three of his 14 starts, and with three seconds as well, has stakes of just shy of $88,000. He has taken to the Darwin track very well – his latest victory followed two seconds at his only previous two starts on the course.
Dynasty Reward gained a thoroughly deserved win with a dominant display in the AFA Insurance Brokers Maiden (1200m).
Trained by Kevin Lamprecht in Alice Springs and with Jason Lyon in the saddle, Dynasty Reward began well and dropped in to trail leader Pafitis, with Mapleton Hill on his outer.
Rounding the home turn, Lyon asked Dynasty Reward for the supreme effort and the son of Reward For Effort soon after joined and headed a weakening Pafitis and ran clear to score by just over three lengths from Meet Me At The Bar, who did a good job after being slowly into stride, with Vinolent third.
Dynasty Reward had picked up five seconds and four thirds from 14 starts prior to his breakthrough win, and with the $18,425 first prize for his maiden victory, he has stakes now of $62,955.
The well-known Lamprecht colours of yellow and red X’s were in the winners’ stall in the very next event too when Yule Point proved a class above his 3yo sprinting rivals in the Sunbuild TROBIS 3yo Handicap (1100m).
Ridden by Deborah Barton, Yule Point began on terms with the field but had to do some work to get over from his barrier draw of seven to sit outside the pacemaker Snappy Sweetheart.
The pair went together to the home turn at which point Yule Point, after edging to the centre of the track, ran clear, with Si Senora his only serious challenger. But Si Senora could not bridge the gap and Yule Point hit the line with a length and a-half to spare, with Voronya running on late into third almost six lengths behind the runner-up.
Trained earlier in his career by Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr, Yule Point was purchased by long-time Lamprecht stable owner Greg Aldam and has had just two starts for the Alice Springs conditioner for two impressive wins.
The son of Blue Point is raced by Aldam along with Robyn Lamprecht, Jolene and Tarmo Koivumaki, Tania Rimmington and Quentin Smith, and has now amassed stakes and bonuses of $57,155, the result of two wins and two placings from seven starts.
Kyneton trainer Neil Dyer, a three-time Darwin Cup-winning trainer who has been attending the Carnival in the Top End since 2008, got on the board for 2026 when Luna Field gave a dashing display in the FRM Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Handicap (1000m).
In the hands of Stan Tsaikos, Luna Field began like a bullet from a middle gate and quickly assumed control. Tsaikos gave his mount a breather across the top and then on straightening, cut the ribbons and the 5yo son of Deep Field sprinted away to win eased down by seven lengths.
Press Express, after losing its place with about 800m to run, finished off resolutely along the inside to take second, with Mlinzi running on from last to take third, just a half-head away.
Luna Field has picked up each of his three career wins in Darwin – he won twice during the 2024 Carnival – and with a further eight placings, took his stake earnings through the $100,000 barrier to $103,525.
Bollon, after disappointing at his last start on 20 June, bounced back to his best with a tough win in the Territory Isuzu Handicap (1600m).
Gary Clarke’s 4yo son of Super Seth, raced by Victorian trainer Peter Moody, began quickly from an outset barrier and worked hard up the hill from the start to take the lead as the field turned into the back straight.
He was able to control proceedings from that point on but with the Darwin home straight to complete, he looked vulnerable. However, his supporters need not have worried as he dug deep to hold out Barocco Bar by two lengths, with Faberge Tzar battling into third some four lengths back.
Bollon has now won on four occasions, with three of his wins coming over 1600m. Like Luna Field, he took his stake earnings past $100,000, to $110,080.
Story courtesy Andrew O’Toole