Blackbriar may have finished third in the $175,000 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (2000m) on Monday, but he was the first Darwin horse across the line.

Trainer Melinda Boothy had every right to be excited as the six-year-old gelding was mixing it with the leaders as the field turned for home.

"When they turned for home he was a huge chance and there was plenty of screaming going on with 200m to go," Boothby said. "It was the first time that I had ever had a runner in the Cup and I was happy with the way he stuck on."

Blackbriar, who started at $17 after at one stage blowing out to $20, was no match for the Neil Dyer trained pair Hawks Bay and Palmyra Boy.

With Paul Shiers riding for dear life, Blackbriar held on for the "bronze medal" after $101 outsider Very Fast and the Jason Manning trained General Mazeratti made their presence felt.

Victorian raider Very Fast was pipped by Blackbriar by a nose for third, while General Mazeratti produced a fine effort to finish fifth.

"I thought Very Fast had caught him from my vantage point but I was thrilled when I saw his number come up for third place," Boothby said. "Paul rode a beautiful race but Hawks Bay and Palmyra Boy are pretty good horses.

"It was good to finish ahead of The Ruffian (sixth), not because he was the favourite and was aiming for the Triple Crown but because he also boasted good Victorian form before coming to Darwin." Boothby had always rated Blackbriar a chance in the Darwin Cup, but was disappointed with his effort in the Metric Mile on July 23 when he finished eighth.

Watching Blackbriar's performance in the Metric Mile was baffling as he is a renowned front-runner, but jockey Chad Lever settled him midfield. In the end he had no kick and perhaps lacked the fitness to finish off the Darwin Cup a lot stronger.

Boothby's training career started in 2002 and her biggest ever win was achieved in the 2004 Chief Ministers Cup with Kelaman. Sadly, Kelaman passed away a few weeks later after suffering a ruptured aorta when finishing unplaced in the Metric Mile.

Story courtesy of David White, NT News