ELLA CLARKE, fresh off her first quinella a week previously, was celebrating again when saddling Pop Magic for her biggest win as a trainer in the $40,000 TRNT Off The Track Wet Season Series Final, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
From the inside gate at the 1200m, regular rider Stan Tsaikos, who was winning his third race from the first four on the card, bounced to the front and held the lead, with Fly Nice on his outer. The pace was slick throughout and when Pop Magic turned for home with a little break, he was always going to be hard to peg back.
He bounded well clear soon after, and Tsaikos had the luxury of easing his mount well before the line to score by just short of seven lengths, with Fly Nice sticking on gamely to take second, just ahead of Swing With Junior, who finished off well.
Pop Magic, a 5yo chestnut gelding by Wandjina from Toorak Toff mare Pop, has been the stable flagbearer for Clarke and is getting better with age. And the way in which he dealt to his seven rivals in the Series Final points to him adding to his record, which now stands at five wins and five placings from just 18 starts, for stakes of just short of $105,000.
He is raced by his trainer along with her mother Sharlene, grandfather Gerry, long-time stable supporter Kevin King and the Women In Thoroughbred Racing NT Poppy No 1 and 2 syndicates.
Clarke (27), who has only had her license for a little over two years and contents herself with just a handful of horses, has now trained some 13 winners, and the impeccably-bred trainer – she is by 11-time champion Darwin trainer Gary from expert horsewoman and stable foreman Sharlene – has a very bright future.
Earlier, No Rain No Flowers, aided by a lovely front-running ride from Tsaikos, held her rivals at bay to register her first win in the Bridge Toyota Maiden Plate (1300m).
Trained by Chris Pollard, No Rain No Flowers drew out a bit but Tsaikos had no hesitation in sending his mount to the front and she defied her opposition to run her down, holding on by a length and a-half from Mutany, who was trapped three-wide throughout, with Proklisi a solid third.
Tsaikos was not finished there, piloting Shecanmixit to a tough victory in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap (1200m).
After bouncing well from the outside gate, Shecanmixit crossed the field to lead on the fence, but was joined soon after by Beatification and the pair went head-for-head to the home turn.
The latter put his head in front early in the straight but Shecanmixit, under vigorous riding, assumed control at about the 200m mark and came clear to score by just over a length. Barty Aya made ground into third some four and a-quarter lengths away.
“Well she ticked the 1200m box, didn’t she?” said delighted trainer Chloe Baxter. “That was my big concern but she was very strong after being headed, and Stan gave her a great ride,” she added.
Saccharo (Phil Cole/Emma Lines) showed his class with a strong finish to win the Chinese New Year Handicap (1300m).
Last year’s Birdsville Cup winner and Alice Springs Cup third placegetter trailed third behind stablemate Cielo D’Oro and Desert Dreamer, before unleashing an irresistible home straight sprint to score by almost two lengths from Cielo D’Oro, with Volatore, who got back last in the run, doing his best work late to take third.
Saccharo, an 8yo son of Magnus, could well be Red Centre-bound again in the next few weeks – he won the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) there on Day 3 of the 2023 Carnival before his game third in the Cup behind Write Your Name.
Pride Of Limassol (Dick Leech/Jade Hampson) got back in the winning groove in the Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Silks 14 February Handicap (1000m).
After beginning fairly, Hampson urged her mount forward to sit on the outer of co-pacemaker Aplomado, and despite travelling a little wide in the run, the 5yo son of Pride Of Dubai had too much in reserve to score by a length and three-quarters from Aplomado, who just held second by a half head from Vascotto.
And Hampson completed the day with a race-to-race double courtesy of Fischer, trained by her master Tayarn Halter, who scored an authoritative win in the Sportsbet Handicap (1600m).
Fischer began well from the outside gate and took up a trail behind leader Supremo. He looked in trouble at the 500m mark but once he balanced up in the home straight, he changed gears, took the lead and bounded clear to score by over five lengths from a gallant Supremo, who just held out Princess Pancakes by a half-neck.