Kerry Petrick, who had endured a trying Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival with just one winner over the first six days, turned that all around with a quartet of superb victories on Day 7, bet365 Palmerston Sprint Day, at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
She started the day in perfect fashion when just-turned 4yo The Men Went Home turned in a tough performance to beat the older horses in the Silk Laser Clinics Mile (1600m), and added further wins courtesy of Tellez, Buckleup Buddy and Real Divine.
The Men Went Home, an attractive son of O’Lonhro, had finished second and fifth in the Guineas and Derby respectively at his last two starts, and in the first event on the seven-race card, settled back in the field as the pace was set by He’s Essential and The Final Word.
He improved quickly around runners on the point of the home turn and under strong urging in the straight, got the lead close to home to hold on by a short head from Grinzinger Bishop, who hit the line well, with Hennessy Lad a battling third.
The Men Went Home has now won two of his eight starts for stakes of just over $91,000, and he looks a nice prospect for some decent Carnival races in both Darwin and Alice Springs as he matures.
Petrick and Denton doubled up three races later when Tellez ran his opposition off their legs in the Victoria Village Katherine Handicap (1200m).
First to hit the ground, he had Limited Risk for company early before extending away approaching the home turn, running his first 600m in a slick 32.53sec.
He had a four or five-length advantage at that point and kept up a relentless gallop to hold out Hell Fire Miss by a long neck, with Orion The Hunter, who was towards the rear throughout, a solid third just a length and a-half back.
Tellez, purchased from the recent Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale held in Alice Springs in early April for $31,000, has since had five starts for a win, two seconds and a fourth. His overall earnings now stand at almost $125,000, and the son of Harry Angel would appear to have plenty of upside.
But the combination was not finished yet, with Buckleup Buddy showing plenty of grit to lead all the way in the bet365 TROBIS Handicap (1100m).
The grey son of Shalaa was booted out to lead from the inside gate, had plenty of company throughout but found extra reserves to run out a two and three-quarter length winner from Buades, who didn’t get much room along the inner in the straight, with Predicting a close-up third.
And if that wasn’t enough, Petrick was in the winner’s enclosure again in the very next event to bring up the four-timer with Real Divine in the Cleanaway Handicap (1000m).
Petrick had three of the seven runners engaged in the event, and just when it looked like topweight Black Zous would give her the quartet, it was Real Divine (Jason Lyon) who sprouted wings late to score by a short half-head. Patriotic King took third just three-quarters of a-length away.
Petrick and Gordon Simmons race the 7yo daughter of Real Saga, who has now won eight races from 71 starts and has stakes closing in on the $200,000 mark.
Kessler (Angela Forster/Vanessa Arnott) kept his winning streak going with an all-the-way win in the Administrator’s Cup (1300m).
After beginning well, Kessler had Frankfurt for company, with Astern Magic settling in third, and the order remained the same into the home straight.
Kessler always looked to have Frankfurt’s measure, but with Sairyn Fawke riding hard, the latter never stopped trying and only went down by a long neck. There was over four lengths back to To The Point in third.
Kessler, a 6yo chestnut by Good Journey, is raced by his trainer along with her partner Darren Waterfall, and with three wins in succession – all during the Carnival – he is proving a great money-spinner for the pair. He has now won six of his 28 starts and has stakes of in excess of $125,000.
Newcomer Villa Royale proved a class above her rivals in the Silks Darwin Maiden Plate (1200m).
Giving Gary Clarke his 11th winner of the Carnival, Villa Royale, with Hannah Le Blanc doing the steering, trailed the pacemakers Juelene and Nunniong, swept up three-wide around the home turn and soon after kicked away.
She was untested to win by four and a-half lengths from Go Barney Go, who has now finished second no less than seven times, with Juelene holding on to third a half-length back.
Villa Royale, a 5yo daughter of Impending, was finally winning at her 18th start, but she had been placed eight times second and three times third previously. Now she has broken through, look for her to go on with the job in the coming months.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole