Bollon, sent straight to the front from the outset of the ANZAC Day Two-Up @ Silks Handicap, proved far too strong for his rivals in the feature race of the day at Fannie Bay on Friday.
Trained by Gary Clarke, who is currently based in the Red Centre for the AS Cup Carnival, and ridden by Jarrod Todd, Bollon stepped well from a widish gate at the 1600m and was soon at the head of affairs as he made his way into the back straight.
He was inclined to over-race a little before Todd allowed him more rein at the 600m and he soon had his opposition chasing. The son of Super Seth rounded the home turn with a nice buffer and only increased it as he zeroed in on the winning post, the official margin seven and three-quarter lengths.
Rhesus, who tracked the leader throughout, fought on gamely to take second, with Barocco Bar, third throughout, holding that position at the line, a length behind Rhesus.
Bollon, a 4yo gelding owned by leading Victorian trainer Peter Moody, came to Darwin as a 3yo and raced well enough against his own age group, finishing fourth in the NT Derby behind Capitol Hill and company. He spelled after running second on Darwin Cup Day and his latest run was his third this campaign.
“He has ability but needed to grow up and mature,” said stable foreman Sharlene Clarke. “He has a few more wins in store all going well.”
Bollon has now won twice from 19 starts, and with six placings as well, took his stake earnings to over $76,000.
Scone-based horseman Billy Cray won his first race in Darwin at the 11th time of asking when guiding Ankle Rolex to a fine win in the Cup Carnival On Sale Handicap (1200m).
Trained by Pat Johnston, Ankle Rolex got back in the field as Galaxy General and Dynamic Theory cut out some decent sectionals, and he was still some lengths off the pace rounding the final turn.
But Cray conjured a strong finish out of the 6yo son of Cable Bay and he descended late to score by a length and a-quarter from Southampton Flare, who was game in defeat, with Rising Water running another placing three-quarters of a-length away.
Cray, who first rode in Darwin in mid-February and then returned to finish second in the St Pat’s Cup aboard Maxxi Bon on 14 March, is something of a journeyman but he has been riding in good form of late and has engagements at Armidale tomorrow before a busy week ahead on the NSW country circuit.
“It’s always good to get up here, the weather today is unreal, it was freezing at home this morning,” said the likeable hoop.
Ankle Rolex has now won ten races for Johnston and wife Nicole Day, and has stakes of just over $195,000.
Anecdotal (Phil Cole/Wayne Davis) began like a bullet in the Vale Paul Gardner TROBIS Handicap (1300m) and never gave his rivals a look-in.
He led by six lengths on settling, came back to the field a little at the 550m mark but then scooted well clear around the home turn and was not for catching, reaching the line five lengths clear of the Clarke stablemates Fields Of Courage and favourite Fury.
It was Anecdotal’s first win in Darwin at his seventh attempt, and he has now won twice from 14 career starts and has three seconds and two thirds as well, with stakes of almost $72,000.
And in a similar performance to Anecdotal’s, Viaconi (Chloe Baxter/Raymond Vigar) jumped well from the inside gate, held the lead throughout and ran clear to score easily in the Ladbrokes Handicap (1100m).
Vigar, adept at getting his mounts out of the starting stalls, was at his best aboard Viaconi and the 5yo son of Nicconi never looked like being caught.
He had five lengths to spare around the Silks Turn and although that margin decreased close to the line, he still had three and a-quarter lengths to spare from Self Serve, who chased hard, with Good Onya Darl running on into third two and a-half lengths away.
Viaconi, also like Anecdotal, was winning his first race in Darwin for his connections, and he has now won twice from 20 starts, and with two seconds and four thirds as well, has stakes of $74,845.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole