Crown Waters continued the tremendous run of form being experienced by trainer Tommy Logan when she descended late to prevail in a heart-stopping finish to the Mitcon Projects Open, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
In a field featuring outstanding sprinter Dakota Lee and up-and-coming Arizona Activist, it was Crown Waters, having her first start since late February, who stormed home at the end of the 1200m to get in the deciding stride by a head, with just a nose separating Arizona Activist and Dakota Lee. Flying Yishu was close-up fourth.
Ridden by Hannah Le Blanc, who in Sonja Logan’s injury-enforced absence is building a fine combination with the Logan stable, Crown Waters settled just behind the speed set by Devils Delight, Dakota Lee and Arizona Activist, who was forced to race three-wide.
Rounding the home turn, the trio were still on terms, but soon after Devils Delight began to weaken and it looked as though Arizona Activist, who had claimed Dakota Lee, would take the major prize.
But Crown Waters and Le Blanc had other ideas, hitting top gear over the last 150m and getting the decision in the last stride.
Logan, who trained a double last week and has sent out 15 winners for the season to date to sit third on the trainer’s premiership, was of a mind to head towards the $38,500 ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) in a fortnight with the 5yo.
“We’ll see how she pulls up but that’s probably the obvious target,” said Logan. “We thought with the speed on that she could get over the top of them and Hannah gave her a great ride.”
The second and third horses lost no admirers with their performances – Arizona Activist covered plenty of extra ground, while Dakota Lee had no peace during the run and carried a minimum of 6.5kg more than the first two home.
Crown Waters has now won six of her 21 starts, and with five seconds and three thirds as well, took her stake earnings to just over $157,000.
Popular trainer Jason Manning, who began his training career in Darwin in 2005, sent out his 200th career winner when Orion The Hunter scored a hard-fought win in the TAB Handicap (1300m).
Ridden by Vanessa Arnott, who has been aboard many of Manning’s winners over the years since his first training success with Doma Demus at Fannie Bay on 2 August 2006, Orion The Hunter trailed Hennessy Lad in the run before moving alongside approaching the home turn.
He soon after assumed control but had to fight all the way to the line to repel a game Hennessy Lad by a long neck, with Ichiban an eye-catching third just over a length away.
A delighted Manning said: “It’s good to put that milestone behind us – we were close a week ago when Brazen Bon was just beaten. Hopefully there’s many more to come.”
Orion The Hunter, Manning’s only runner of the day, is a 5yo chestnut gelding by Deep Field and has now won twice from seven Top End starts. His overall stakes stand at just over $157,000.
Romantic Love, despite drifting in the market, gave his rivals a galloping lesson on his first Fannie Bay outing in the Book DTC Gala Ball Handicap (1200m).
Trained by Terry Gillett and with Stan Tsaikos in the saddle, Romantic Love sat second in the run behind Rivers Of Babylon, went up to challenge rounding the home turn and dashed away to win most impressively by four lengths in a smart time of 1:07.80.
Rivers Of Babylon, at his fourth Darwin start, registered a fourth runner-up placing, and was two and a-half lengths clear of Mods.
Formerly trained by Brett Robb in NSW, Romantic Love looks to have plenty of upside and as a three-race winner, will receive plenty of opportunities during the upcoming Darwin Cup Carnival.
Kevin Lamprecht, after a double a week ago, was in the winner’s enclosure again when Yule Point ran well clear of his rivals in the Philip Dowling Memorial TROBIS Maiden (1100m).
With Deborah Barton in the saddle, Yule Point tracked the speed set by Meet Me At The Bar, joined in wide around the home turned and dashed away to score by over seven lengths from Meet Me At The Bar, with Fabres third a length and a-half back.
Yule Point, a 3yo son of Blue Point, was having his first start in the NT after earlier being trained in Victoria by Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr. He has now started on six occasions for a win, a second and a third, and the 3yo sprint races during the Carnival will likely be his targets.
Dad Bod (Kerry Petrick/Lek Maloney), having his first Top End start, showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Ladbrokes Place Extra To 10th Handicap (1100m).
After sitting outside the leader Black Coal to the Silks Turn, Dad Bod took over soon after and was not for catching, reaching the line clear by two lengths from Lavender Glory, who finished off well, with Down The Wicket three-quarters of a-length away third.
Dad Bod had bagged two wins and a second from just four starts in the Red Centre, and judged on his first outing in Darwin, he has taken to the Top End track with aplomb.
Maloney doubled up in the final event of the day, the DCOH Guineas In Three Weeks Handicap (1600m), when Barocco Bar got up in the shadows of the post to deny a game The Albion (Paul Shiers).
Trained by Pat Johnston, Barocco Bar enjoyed a lovely run in transit just behind the pacemaker The Albion. Shiers booted for home rounding the final corner and looked set for victory, but Barocco Bar kept coming and collared his rival in the final 25m to win by a length. Anphina was third almost three lengths back.
Maloney has a great rapport with the 6yo son of Epaulette, his most recent win his fourth on the horse and his first under the training of Johnston. Dan Morgan had legged Maloney up for three wins aboard Barocco Bar when training in Alice Springs.
Story courtesy Andrew O’Toole