He won a Palmerston Sprint for Nev Connor, so will Far Horizons win the NT's feature race for the dashers for Stephen Brown?
It was in 2009 that Far Horizons made it three straight wins in the Palmerston Sprint for Connor, the Alice Springs trainer who retired at the end of last year's Darwin Cup Carnival.
Far Horizons bled in the Palmerston last year when he and the rest of the field followed the Dick Leech-trained Lucid Reflection home.
An automatic three-month break ensued and Far Horizons was one of three horses that leading Darwin-based trainer Brown purchased from Connor.
The other two horses were Only Feathers, who went amiss after winning the Adelaide River Cup (1700m) on June 4, and Tennyson, who has made an impres- sion over the sprint distances in the lower grades dur- ing the Darwin Cup Carnival.
"I've been happy with Far Horizons and he's not without a chance tomorrow," Brown said last night.
The seven-year-old gelding finished under three lengths behind Awe And Wonder in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in Alice Springs after crossing the line in seventh place.
He then returned to Darwin to win over 1200m on May 28 before running fourth behind Lucid Reflection in the Aussie Signs Welter (1100m) on July 2.
Backing up again last Saturday, Far Horizons completed his Palmerston preparations when he ran a solid third behind fast-finishing Hidden Surprise and The Soldier in the Carbine Club Flying Handicap (1100m).
Brown will have a staggering five starters in the 11-horse field, with Canali, Exalation, Testagold (second in 2010) and Hargitay join- ing Far Horizons in the Palmerston.
"Lucid Reflection will be hard to beat once again, Hidden Surprise was outstanding last Saturday and I'm extremely wary of Sense Of Sun," Brown said last night.
Lucid Reflection will become only the fourth horse since 1976 to go back-to-back in the Palmerston if he should salute this afternoon.
The six-year-old gelding will join a list that includes Game Warden (1985-86), Squire Gray (1991-92), Tally Ho (1996-97) and Jade City (2007-08).
Finally, today's race will not feature Hawks Bay or The Soldier.
Story courtesy of David White, NT News
