I’m A Dreamer, an 11-time runner-up, put his best foot forward when capturing his fifth career win at his 50th start in the ANZAC Day Handicap at Fannie Bay on Friday.
Prepared by Tayarn Halter and with Raymond Vigar taking the mount, I’m A Dreamer led early before trailing in the 1600m event, but when leader Marvelous Night slowed the speed early in the back straight, Vigar whipped up on the outer to put a little more pressure into the race.
Marvelous Night still held the rail with I’m A Dreamer on his outside and Esskay three-wide, and that was the order as they made the home turn. Esskay went wide on the corner and Desert Mist opted for the rails run, but it was still Marvelous Night and I’m A Dreamer holding the advantage inside the final 100m.
Over the final stages, with Vigar riding hard, I’m A Dreamer got in the deciding strides to down a game Marvelous Night by a long head, with Desert Mist, who had his chance along the rail, three-quarters of a-length away third.
I’m A Dreamer, a 6yo son of Divine Prophet, is raced by Kelvin and Byron Moore of Derby, and he has been a good money-spinner for the pair. His stakes, after adding $14,950 with his latest win, are now a highly respectable $119,184.
American Jazz, something of a Clarke Racing stable favourite, bounced back to his best form with his very first win, at his first ever outing at 1200m, in the Two Up After The Last Handicap.
The 5yo son of American Pharoah, raced by a large syndicate of mainly Melbourne owners who are great supporters of Territory racing, had won five races from 25 career starts before Friday, but quite incredibly, had never raced at 1200m.
That mattered not one bit to the strapping chestnut, who was sent straight to the front by No 1 stable rider Jarrod Todd and never looked in danger of defeat. He had a nice buffer around the home turn and ridden out by Todd, reached the line clear by four and a-half lengths from stablemate Global Wonder, with Royal Signal third.
American Jazz ran a slick time too – his 1:08.23 was a fine gallop for Benchmark 54 grade, and he really sprinted home, with his last 600m in 33.36sec.
Tannenburg (Adam Nicholls) turned around his last placing in Alice Springs on Cup Weekend with a last-gasp win in the Light Horse Brigade TROBIS Handicap (1300m) to give Gary Clarke the first leg of a race-to-race double.
After Super Defense and Jenadar set up a solid clip in front, the pair turned for home with a decent break on their rivals, who were all chasing. Nicholls, fifth on the inner, elected to stay glued to the fence and in the shadows of the post, Tannenburg descended to get in the deciding stride for a short half-head win.
Super Defense had the race won everywhere but the last bound, and held second by three-quarters of a-length from Jenadar, with well-supported Spirit Beast not far away in fourth.
A 4yo son of Russian Revolution, Tannenburg had only raced once previously in the NT when down the track in the Red Centre. However, his prior form in Queensland was decent, and he could go on with it in the Top End.
Miami Vice capped off some consistent form with an all-the-way win in the hands of Wayne Davis in the Lest We Forget Handicap (1100m).
Trained by Phil Cole, Miami Vice, the Top End 3yo of the Year last season, had been knocking on the door with a brace of seconds at his last two starts, and from an inside draw, Davis had no hesitation in driving his mount forward to lead.
He was travelling well approaching the home turn and slipped away from his rivals around the home turn, holding the advantage to the line to score by over four lengths from Tugela Falls, who went a nice race for trainer/rider Paul Shiers, with newcomer Mr Marrakech third a half-length back.
Miami Vice, a son of Shalaa, has now won four of his 23 starts, and with six seconds and three thirds as well to his credit, has stakes now of just over $116,000.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole