Territory sprint queen Dakota Lee ticked a major box for her connections when proving too strong for three rivals in the DCOH Guineas In Six Weeks Open, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
The two-time Pioneer Sprint winner had never raced at HQ due to a number of factors, but trainer Terry Gillett had her cherry-ripe for her latest assignment and she duly saluted in the hands of Dakota Gillett.
The 7yo daughter of Kuroshio and Manzie De Lago began well as expected from the outside gate, went straight to the front and although inclined to race a bit keenly down the back straight, had her rivals chasing a long way out.
Although shaken up in the final 250m, she was never in danger of defeat and reached the line over the 1300m three and a-half lengths clear of Awash, who just held out the fast-finishing Maxxi Bon and Atlantic Ocean.
Trainer Gillett was delighted with the effort.
“She was probably a bit fresh today and Dakota said she pulled hard down the back, but she is just so well at present. I’ll head towards the ROANT Cup (1300m) in five weeks’ time and then we’ll decide whether she attempts the Chief Minister’s Cup over a mile two weeks later.
“She has only had 16 lifetime starts and is a rising 8yo, so we’ll just take one race at a time and see where she takes us,” he said.
Dakota Lee has won 14 times and been placed once second, only missing a place on one occasion. With her first Top End win, she now has stakes of $341,187.
Hebel, having his first start in the Top End for the Gilletts, got the day off on the right note for the stable when storming home to down Fields Of Courage in the opener, the Ladbrokes Hosted Pots Handicap (1300m).
Hebel, providing jockey Gillett with the first leg of a race-to-race double, settled back in the field with stablemate Beau Factor as Anecdotal cut out some quick early sectionals. Fields Of Courage took over soon after straightening for the run home but Hebel descended late to get up by a half neck, with Ankle Rolex battling into third just over three lengths away.
Hebel, formerly trained in Alice Springs by Carrol Hunter who did a fine job with the 5yo son of Shalaa, is owned by Craig Reid and his wife Joanne, along with the Add A Length Syndicate managed by Leigh Swift.
He has now won five of his 26 races, and with five placings as well, has stakes of $106,490, and the way in which he won on Saturday, he looks a likely type for mid-grade Darwin Carnival events.
Self Serve made up for an unlucky fourth a fortnight ago with a dominant victory in the Book DTC Gala Ball Handicap (1200m).
Trained by Tommy Logan and with Hannah Le Blanc in the saddle, Self Serve began well, led on the outer of Rising Water and put the pressure on her rivals with 500m to run.
The daughter of Ocean Park rounded the home turn with a handy break and was not for catching, hitting the line almost five lengths to the good of Fury, with almost two lengths back to a battling Rising Water.
Self Serve finished fourth at her previous start, but struck traffic problems on the home turn and should have finished a lot closer to eventual winner Runaway Tycoon. She has now won twice from 11 starts and with three seconds as well, has stakes of just over $57,000.
Merimbula, a $500,000 yearling at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast in 2024, created a decent impression on his first Top End start with a dogged win in the TAB TROBIS 3yo Handicap (1100m).
Formerly trained in Victoria by Matt Laurie, the son of Blue Point won his maiden at Mornington in November last year and had since raced over longer trips up to 2000m, with his previous start on 31 March.
Purchased by Aaron Kingshott and partners for $30,000 out of the Inglis Early April Online Sale, he made his way to the Top End and Gary Clarke’s stable, and in the hands of Aaron Sweeney, finished strongly to down a game Rivers Of Babylon and Pafitis by almost two lengths and more.
With the winning stake of $15,275 as well as the $5,000 TROBIS Bonus, he is well on the way to recouping his purchase price, and will now follow the 3yo path towards the $85,000 DCOH Darwin Guineas (1600m) on 4 July.
Bollon gave Clarke a double when bolting away with the last, the Mitcon Projects Handicap (1600m).
Ridden by Jarrod Todd, Bollon was urged forward to lead from barrier eight and took up the pace heading into the back straight. He controlled it at a decent clip before accelerating down the hill and into the straight, and he was never in danger of defeat.
The son of Super Seth, owned by leading Victorian trainer Peter Moody, hit the line six lengths clear of Barocco Bar, who never stopped trying, with No I’m Not just under seven lengths away third in a strung out field.
Bollon has won his last two starts impressively and has matured from three to four years of age after being difficult to train last season. He has now won three of his 20 starts and judged on Saturday’s performance, will be adding to his stakes of $91,655 in the near future.
Story courtesy Andrew O’Toole