Three feature races down the drain, and it's three wins for the girls. And all the boys can do is sit back and watch.

Since the start of the Darwin Cup Carnival, it has been the fairer sex who have dominated the supposed "sport of kings" by grabbing all the headlines.

First of all it was Adelaide apprentice Libby Hopwood who guided the Sheila Arnold-trained three-year-old gelding The Ruffian to an oustanding win in the Hot 100 Darwin Guineas (1600m) on the first Saturday in July.

On Day 2, Alice Springs jockey Jan Cameron was the hero when the Neil Dyer-trained Palmyra Boy triumphed in the Trans Territory Foods Chief Ministers Cup (1600m).

Significantly, Palmyra Boy came from the clouds to narrowly edge out the Paula Trenwith-trained seven-year-old gelding Montego Bay, from Adelaide, who was ridden by Hopwood.

And on Wednesday - Ladies Day - Vanessa Arnott was the toast of the female patrons at Fannie Bay when the Jason Manning-trained six-year-old gelding General Mazeratti won the Bridge Toyota Cup (1600m) in emphatic style.

Will the female dominance continue or will the boys buck the trend starting tomorrow in the SkyCity NT Derby (2000m).

Cameron (Can't Agree) and Hopwood (High Finance) are the only females assured of a start in the Derby at this stage as Arnott's mount Zigstroem is an emergency.

The Darwin Turf Club's famed triple crown - the Darwin Guineas, NT Derby and Darwin Cup - is also up for grabs with The Ruffian having already won the first leg.

Only Brinney (1989) and Ventilago (1996) have achieved the feat in the past.

Cara Angel, who shares the lead with Alana Brown in the race for Darwin apprentice premiership honours with 13 wins, had a personal highlight on June 25 after guiding the David Bates-trained four-year-old gelding Invincible Gold to an astonishing victory by 11 and three quarter lengths in the Fannie Bay Photographs Handicap (1600m).

Story courtesy of David White, NT News