Fly showed he could have a bright future in the Territory over the coming months with a deserved victory in the $40,000 Ladbrokes Lightning Wet Season Series Final, feature event at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Trained by Gary Clarke and with No 1 stable rider Jarrod Todd in the saddle, Fly had to be good to win the 1200m event.
After I Loverain, La Boqueria and Patriotic King had shared the lead with Fly to the first corner, Todd elected to pull out of the speed battle, which ultimately proved a master-stroke. He was able to just sit off the leaders from the 600m to the 350m mark at which point he made his move around runners three-wide.
Fly chimed in stylishly at the 250m mark and although inclined to do a few things wrong and wander about, he was too good for his rivals, hitting the line a length and a-quarter clear of Bruno Bruno, who flew home after being tardily into stride, with Bryce, I Loverain and Pleasing Smile all close up next.
Todd said: “They were going too quick so I made the decision to ease at the 600m, but just as I did the two in front came close together, so I guess I was lucky to read the play.
“He’s still got a lot to learn but has a future, that’s for sure.”
Clarke now intends to ease up on Fly, a 4yo son of Merchant Navy, with the 2026 Darwin Carnival in mind.
“He’s still pretty raw and has only had the nine starts, so he’ll be even better with more experience,” said the master conditioner.
It was Todd’s 951st career win – he brought up his 950th at the previous Darwin meeting on 17 January aboard the same horse – and Todd and Clarke have now combined for 251 wins as a dynamic duo.
Fly has won three of his nine starts, and with two seconds and a third, has stakes of just shy of $80,000, with seemingly plenty more to come.
Crown Waters, aided by a 10 out of 10 ride from Hannah Le Blanc, got the measure of Forms Of Fear and Struck Gold late to win the third heat of the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Series (1300m).
Last year’s St Patrick’s Day Cup winner, trained by Tommy Logan, began well and was able to slot in on the fence behind the leading quartet as the field swung off the back.
Forms Of Fear and Struck Gold were still going at it rounding the home turn, but Le Blanc had Crown Waters in a stalking position and once angled into the clear, the 5yo daughter of Hallowed Crown finished off resolutely to score by a half-length from a game Forms Of Fear, with Struck Gold three-quarters of a-length back third.
A cheap buy by her trainer, Crown Waters has now won five of her 18 starts and with five seconds and a third as well, has stakes now of $131,585.
Logan and Le Blanc doubled up in the last of the day, the Balton Rex Handicap (1000m), when Polarising dashed home late to collar Miami Vice by a widening two lengths.
There was plenty of pace from the outset and Le Blanc elected to sit off the pace and come with one late run. The plan worked to perfection and Polarising hit the line with a full head of steam. Miami Vice tried hard in his first start since April, while newcomer Tears Are Flowing was more than a pass mark with his third placing, a half-length behind Miami Vice.
A 6yo mare by Pariah, Polarising has now won five of her 29 starts – four of them in Darwin – and has stakes now of close on $129,000.
Rock Revolution turned in a much-improved performance when leading throughout in the TAB Handicap (1600m).
Well fancied when only fifth behind Fury and company in his first Darwin start on 9 January, the 4yo son of Russian Revolution was on his game this time, with the extra trip no doubt to his liking.
Trained by Chloe Baxter and with visiting WA apprentice Cassey Martinan in the saddle, Rock Revolution went to the front from the outset and had stablemate Sass for company on his outer.
The pair had the field well strung out and it was a two-horse race throughout, with Rock Revolution showing admirable fighting qualities to repel Sass by a little over a length, with almost four lengths back to Just Albert, who trailed third throughout, next.
Although just a three-race winner, Rock Revolution’s connections, which include the trainer and former Alice Springs racecaller Pat Comerford, have the $120,000 AS Cup (2000m) on 4 May as a possible target, with the St Pat’s Cup (1600m) in Darwin on 14 March as a precursor to the Red Centre feature.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole