Fields Of Flutes showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Top End in the coming months when dashing home to score an impressive win in the TRNT Off The Track Handicap, the feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

Prepared by 12-time premiership winning trainer Gary Clarke and with his no. 1 stable rider Jarrod Todd in the saddle, Field Of Flutes began fairly but was beaten for speed by Star Magnum and Underhand.

He was slightly awkward making the turn off the back straight at the 650m mark, but Todd soon after had him travelling sweetly as the home turn loomed.

Underhand took the lead on straightening, with Mr Have A Chat issuing a challenge on his outer, but soon after, Field Of Flutes, angled back towards the inside by Todd, quickened in the style of a decent horse and assumed control.

He had to be pushed out to hold the fast finishing He’s The Ultimate, but held a three quarter-length margin at the line.

He’s The Ultimate was an eye catcher in his first start since the Darwin Cup, while Underhand, in her first Top End start, took third three lengths back.

Purchased by Clarke Racing for $32,500 at the Inglis Digital early September online auction, Field of Flutes was formally trained by Ciaron Maher and had won four times from 17 starts in Victoria before his first Top End victory.

Hi latest win, at his first start since late August, certainly won’t be his last.

Chris Nash, who saddled up Son Of Bielski to win the 2024 St Patricks’ Cup, looks to have unearthed a live 2025 contender judged on Seven Secrets’ impressive victory in the Vale Sam Kavanagh Handicap (1600m).

Ridden by Adam Nicholls, Seven Secrets sat on the outer of pacemaker Awesome Lad from the outset, and when that rival came under pressure before the home turn, Nicholls sent his mount forward to a clear lead around the home turn.

He dashed well clear in the straight and galloped all the way to the line to score by over four lengths from Nassau County, with his stablemate Prince Ruban a half a length away third and Son Of Bielski doing his best work late into fourth.

Seven Secrets, a 5yo son of Magnus, has had just four starts with his first at 1600m. To win the race was particularly poignant for Nash, named in honour of the late Sam Kavanagh, with whom the Darwin trainer grew up in Adelaide.

Nicholls was in the winners circle again in the following race when guiding Ribtickler to an upset success in the Silks Darwin Maiden Plate (1200m).

Trained by Peter Stennett, Ribtickler settled fifth and sixth in the run as the race was led by Ease Offa.

Soon after straightening for the run home, hot favourite Miss Moov assumed control but was soon after joined by Cherry Stem, with Ribtickler storming home out wide.

In a driving finish, Ribtickler got the better of Cherry Stem to win by a head, with just a long neck back to Miss Moov, who had her chance.

Hazelwood came from many lengths off the lead to finish fourth.

Wayne Davis, at his fifth meeting back in action after a long break with injury, was the day’s most popular winner when guiding Dancer For Money to a comfortable victory in the Sportsbet TROBIS Special Conditions Plate (1100m).

From the Phil Cole stable which Davis does plenty of riding for, Dancer For Money jumped smartly, led clearly and found good reserves over the final 200m to repel Carat Time and No I’m Not by almost two lengths.

The placegetters were separated by a just a short half head.

Davis had a trackwork fall back in early May, suffering a compression fracture of his T11 vertebrae and some fractured ribs.

He missed the whole of the Darwin Cup Carnival and only made his return to race riding on 29 November.

And Cole made it a double on the day and bagged the quinella, when Lord Fenrir (Sonja Logan) prevailed in the Renew Your DTC membership Handicap (1000m).

Lord Fenrir won by the narrowest possible margin from stablemate Miami Vice (Raymond Vigar)

Story Courtesy of Andrew O’Toole