ANDREW O’TOOLE

Courtesy of NT News

VENTING gave long-time Territory trainer Kerry Petrick her first Derby win, and jockey Paul Denton his second, with a dominant display in the $135,000 Ladbrokes NT Derby at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

The second leg of the Ladbrokes Triple Crown turned into a survival of the fittest, with Guineas winner Wolfburn (Jarrod Todd) making every post a winner form the outset of the 2050m.

Todd had his mount in front passing the winning post on the first round, and Wolfburn maintained a lovely rhythm down the back straight. He led from Max Fire on his outside, with Pacadow, Marvelous Night and Starlite Valley all handy.

Venting meanwhile settled in the last three until Denton, who had previously won the Derby aboard Rocket Flight some 25 years ago, began to allow his mount to improve with about 700m to run. He quickly picked up ground and, rounding the home turn, Wolfburn had a diminishing lead of three lengths.

In a flash Venting was alongside, and over the final 150m he ran clear to win decisively by almost three lengths from a game Wolfburn, with Risining Fire, who also amde up plenty of ground, a battling third some 7 and a half lengths back. Max Fire was fourth, with Sirocco Gale next.

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