After enduring a frustrating day with a number of well backed runners either performing below par or with genuine excuses, 12-time leading trainer Gary Clarke had something to smile about when Rising Sphere bolted away with the National Jockeys Celebration Day Melanie Tyndall Memorial, the feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

With Ianish Luximon in the saddle, Rising Sphere, who had won the Montgomerie Lightning at his previous start on Darwin Cup Day, began well from the 1000m start and held the inside, with Expert Witness on his outer and Ideas Man out three wide.

Rising Sphere put a break on his rivals on the point of the turn and with Luximon riding hard, he held the advantage all the way to the line, scoring by just under two lengths from a game Ideas Man, who never stopped trying with his 64kg, while Canton Kid ran on along the inner to take third.

The winner’s stablemate and favourite Doc O’Connor was slow into stride and was never a factor in the race, finishing last of the five.

Rising Sphere, a 7yo son of Exosphere, has really put it together lately. His latest win was his 11th from 37 Starts, and with four seconds and a third, has earned almost $242,000 in stakes for his connections.

Li’l Wonder, a two time winner for trainer Chris Nash during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival, showed her liking for the Top End again with an impressive victory in the Belinda (Bindy) Simons’ 50th Birthday Handicap (1100m).

With Mark Pegus bagging his second winner for the day from just two rides, Li’l wonder began well, controlled the race and had her rivals stretched rounding the home turn. She was never in danger of defeat over the final 200m, scoring by three and a half lengths from Royal Signal, who covered ground during the run, with Captain George a neck back third.

L’il Wonder, originally trained by Hawkes racing before being transferred to Tony Gollan in Brisbane, had won only once before coming to the Territory, but her record now stands at four wins from 19 starts for her syndicate of owners headed by local businessman Justin Coleman and the mares breeder, G and C Pastoral Co Pty Ltd.

Yaki Ishi (Neil Dyer/Stan Tsaikos) collected a well overdue win when holding on to score by three quarters of a length in the Trafficwerx NT TROBIS Handicap (1300m).

The 5yo purchased by his trainer for $30,000 at last years Magic Millions Darwin Tried Horse Sale, had gone winless since, but his four runs during the Cup Carnival were first class, with two seconds and two thirds.

Tsaikos sat three wide down the back, then took over in front with 500m to run and was nicely clear around the home turn. Although weakening, he was always going to hold out extreme Extreme Emotion, with Hadrians Wall, the favourite, three and a half lengths back third.

Ankle Rolex, given a peach of a ride out in front by Pegus, was back in the winners circle for the first time since January in the SBA Office National Handicap (1300m).

Trained and part owned by Pat Johnston in partnership with his wife Nicole, Ankle Rolex jumped well from barrier five and Pegus allowed him to do his own thing out in front. He was never really challenged and held a margin of three and a half lengths at the finish with Ariarne doing best of the rest and just a short head clear of Go Barney Go.

Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc, on her first day’s riding in Darwin, saluted the judge when Siberian Larch scored a game win in the Tschirpig Conveyancing Handicap (1000m).

Trained by Chloe Baxter, the former Hong Kong galloper sat outside pacemaker Adelaide Fever, took over early in the home straight and kept up a good gallop to down Tricky Mikki by just under two lengths, with Fields Of Praise third.

The favourite Devil’s Delight bombed the start and trailed the field home.

Debating continued his rich vein of form with an all the way win in the National Seniors Australia Top End Branch Handicap (1200m).

Trained by Ella Clarke and with Jarrod Todd in the saddle, the 4yo son of Reward For Effort led but was attended b y Alfieri and Roulette Queen. The later dropped off before the home turn, but Alfieri kept pressuring the favourite until the final stages, when Debating got away to win by three quarters of a length. Kessler finished off well to take second, with Alfieri and To the Point almost in line third and fourth.

Story Courtesy of Andrew O’Toole