Former jumps jockey Tommy Logan, who has only had his trainer’s license for about 3 1/2 years, saddled up his first feature-race winner, Crown Waters, in the $40,000 St Patrick’s Day Cup at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

Ridden by Logan’s wife Sonja, Crown Waters began well from a middle barrier sat the 1600m and sat on the outer of the favourite Seven Secrets early before putting the pressure on about 1000m from home.

The pair went together to the home turn when Crown Waters asserted control.

Seven Secrets never stopped trying but Logan was able to ride her mount just hands and heels before coming clear over the last 150m to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Funnyifitwon, who came from last on the turn, finished third, two lengths away. Desert Mist was close up fourth then topweight Saccharo.

Logan, whose first win came Forthenevernever on Melbourne Cup Day in 2021, is a fine all-round horseman and he certainly secured a bargain with Crown Waters.

“She was the best $2,000 I’ve ever spent,” a delighted Logan said. “Archie Alexander had her early in her career and won a race on the Ballarat synthetic track but she has really turned the corner in Darwin”

Sonja was rapt for her husband, saying: “That’s Tommy’s first feature winner and he really deserves it. She (Crown Waters) is so tough and I was confident a long way out.”

Lightly raced Crown Waters raced by Logan along with his mother Linda, Jack High Racing, Tanz Yeo and Paul Graystone, took her record to 11 starts for four wins, a second and a third with prizemoney just short of $90,000.

Mr Have A Chat provided Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc with her 99th winner when he held off Forms Of Fear and Convincebility in the Shamrock Sprint (1100m).

Chris Nash’s seven-year-old, raced by Grand Syndicates, led on the inside and had Forms Of Fear for company most of the way.

Despite laying out under pressure in the home straight, Mr Have A Chat showed plenty of intestinal fortitude to repel the challenge of firstly Forms Of Fear and, in the final two strides, Convincebility, who flew home to make it interesting. The margins were a short head and a nose and the riders of the placegetters protested against the winner for interference in the home straight. But after lengthy deliberation by stewards, the protests were dismissed, allowing Mr Have A Chat to win his ninth race from 49 starts.

Just For Marcus gave apprentice Jade Hampson her first Top End win since late July last year (and 87th overall) when he led throughout in the Dublin Dash (1100m).

Trained by Hampson’s master Tayarn Halter, Just For Marcus began smartly from the outside draw of six and raced wide almost throughout.

However, he got clear of his rivals soon aftert straightening for the run home and had enough in reserve to hold Miami Vice by just over a length with Tyquendo, a stablemate of the winner, storming home to take third, 2 1/2 lengths back.

Hampson who has been on loan in Queensland for six months but has had a terrible run with injuries, is just about to sign on as a full time Queensland apprentice with Gold Coast trainer John Wallace.

However, she answered an SOS from her NT boss to ride in Darwin on Saturday and was also to take a number of mounts in Alice Springs the following day before heading back to the Sunshine State.

Halter and Hampson didn’t rest on their laurels, combining with newcomer Bruno Bruno for a double in the Four Leaf Clover TROBIS Maiden Plate (1000m).

The former NSW-trained three-year-old son of Hellbent, after beginning well, sat on the outside of King Waldo to the home turn before taking over soon after turning in. He kept up a strong gallop all the way to the line to score by just under two lengths from a brave King Waldo with Red Extreme an eye-catching third.

Bruno Bruno is raced by long time halter stable clients Brenton Parker from South Australia and Pamela and Roger Hamill and Sally Thomas, all from Darwin.

Bryce, nicely rated in front by Wayne Davis, found a good kick in the home straight to hold off all challengers in the luck of the Irish Handicap (1300m)

Trained by Phil Cole, Bryce shared the pace with stablemate Preconi but was clearly travelling the stronger rounding the home turn. The chestnut son of Written By never looked like stopping and reached the line 2 1/2 lengths to the good of Ribtickler, who finished well along the inner, with Lord Fenrir a long neck back third.

Bryce has now won three of his 16 starts for connections and, with his latest winners’ cheque of $14,300, took his earnings to almost $63,000.

Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole