Andrew O’Toole

Courtesy of NT News

NOBEL War and New Roman, both sold through the Magic Millions Darwin Select Tried Horse Sale held on Darwin Cup Weekend eve earlier this year, saluted for the first time their new connections at Fannie Bay yesterday.

The 2021 sale, comprising of 10 lots, had produced the winners of four races prior to yesterday – Bench Press (three wins) and Morphling (one win) had saluted in Alice Springs – but runners has failed to reach the winner’s circle. That all changed in the Day’s opener, the Darwin Racing handicap, when 4yo mare Nobel War went straight to the front in the hands of Paul Denton and proved too strong for her opposition, scoring by a length and a quarter from Mr Boomjangles (a Tried Horse Sale graduate on 2019), with Against the Tide in third.

Two races later and it was new Roman’s turn to do right by her owners. In the hands of Casey Hunter, New Roman led the hot favourite Fromthenevernever approaching the home turn and showed a good to hold out her rival, who ran wide in the final straight, by over two lengths in the Bet265 Lighting handicap. New Roman, who carries the famous Winx colours and was sale-topper for a syndicate of owners including the champion mare’s co-owners Peter Tighe and Bet265 boss David Smith, who sponsored the event.

Vunivalu (Phil Cole/Wayne Davis) turned his form around in spectacular style, burning to the front from the outside gate and running his opposition ragged in the Sky Racing Handicap. Backing up from last week where he finished last of five behind Masterati, Vunivalu found his favoured position at the head of the field and could not be caught, scoring by almost two lengths from Cyclonite, who tried hard, and Dizzy Miss Lizzy.

Overruled (Emma Steele/Adam Nicholls) waged a great battle with Sweet Cheval in the TRNT Off The Track Handicap (1200m) but it was the former who came out on top.