Vieri, aided by a lovely ride from Sonja Logan, out toughed Peel The Stickers to score a narrow win in the Rydges Palmerston Handicap, the feature event at Fannie Bay on Friday.

Trained by Chris Nash, who has now sent out seven winners from just 17 starters this season, Vieri travelled well in the one out, one back position outside Awash as The Albion and Beau Factor led the 1600m event.

Instead of coming around the leaders on the point of the home turn. Logan waited patiently and took the split that presented itself between the pair but then had to withstand the final challenge of Peel The Stickers.

The latter looked certain to win at the 100m mark, but Vieri kept finding under Logan’s urgings and held a half – neck advantage at the line. There was three lengths between the runner – up and Awash, who fought on solidly, with Beau Factor and The Albion battling in fourth and fifth.

Nash was delighted his charge was able to continue with his good form, which has resulted in three wins from his last four starts, and paid tribute to the Darwin Turf Club track and facilities staff following the race.

“After Cyclone Fina last weekend, track and facillities manager Ben Whitlock, Stephen Banks who is the head man on the track, and all the team did a wonderful job to get the racecourse back in A1 racing condition- and hats off to them,” Nash said.

“This horse just keeps stepping up and he really found when the other one came alongside. He is maturing with each run and Sonja rode him a treat,” he said.

Vieri, a 4yo son of Russian Revolution, has now won four times from just 15 starts, and with three seconds and four thirds as well, has stakes now of $87,555.

Warm favourite Time To Baca gave her backers no cause for concern in the Twilight Racing 5 December TROBIS Handicap (1300m), leading from the outset and bolting clear to score by over eight lengths.

Ridden by apprentice Deborah Barton, and trained by Phil Cole, Time To Baca travelled well within herself to the home turn and once given her head, she dashed away in the style of a mare that will win again at short notice.

Itwasonlyakiss chased hard to take second, with King Akeed running a good race at his first Top End start to finish third. But they were in one race and Time To Baca, a daughter of Written Tycoon, in another.

She has now won three of her six starts, and as well as the stakemoney of $13,650, also picked up a $5,000 TROBIS bonus and a further $5,000 Sportsbet Newcomers bonus for winning three times in a calander year.

Her overall stakes now stand at $67,250 plus bonuses from just seven starts.

Cole and Barton doubled up later in the day when Bryce finished solidly to collect a poignant win in the Vale Phillip Crich Handicap (1100m).

After travelling well behind the leading division, Barton made her run between runners at the 250m mark and the chestnut kept finding to reach the line three-quarters of a length to the good of Royal Signal, who tried hard, with Straya Pride a half-head away third.

Barton’s late husband and well-known jockey Phillip Crich, who rode many winners in the NT but lost his battle with cancer a week ago, were best of friends in their younger days, and Barton was very keen to win the race named in Crich’s honour.

The smile on Barton’s face as she came back to scale said it all and capped off a good day for her and Cole Racing.

Bruce has won four of his 20 starts for his connections and has stakes of close on $80,000.

Patriotic King (Gary Clarke/Jarrod Todd) continued on his winning way with a dominant display in the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1200m).

After being slowly into stride as he was when winning last start on 15 November, Todd sent his mount forward to take control of the race by the 750m mark and immediately slowed the speed. He was in a lovely rhythm coming to the home turn, with Todd having a couple of looks around to assess how this operation was travelling.

Once he turned for home, Todd released the brakes and the 7yo son of Starspangledbanner bounded away, reaching the line 2 1/2 lengths clear of stablemate Physical Graffiti, who tried hard, with Miami baby just getting third over Rhesus.

Stable foreperson Sharlene Clarke said: “He is racing well, if not better, than ever. He wasn’t quite right during the Carnival, but he’s flying now.”

Patriotic King has amassed nine victories from 39 starts, and with 12 placings as well. His stakes are close on $172,000.

Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole