Impressive Debut at Bay

Wed, April 28 2010

Trainer Melinda Boothby appears to have unearthed a real gem in last weekend's emphatic Fannie Bay winner Fly Half. If the former Victorian five year old can keep on reproducing what he delivered on his Top End debut, then mark him down as a genuine Palmerston Sprint contender.

Even under double wraps from Darwin Cup winning jockey Stephen Ridler, Fly Half turned the Commemoration of the Anzac Spirit Handicap (1200m) into a procession winning by a commanding 5 1/2 length margin.

Fly Half stopped the clock in a hand timed 1:08.50, little more than a second outside Jade City's record winning time from June 2007 - a clear sign that last Sunday's run was better than average.

The most surprising aspect about Fly Half's win was the lack of financial support, having drifted from $5.50 to $6.00 on track before the success.

Another winning first up display came from Initiative, who surprised plenty with his Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Handicap (1200m) victory.

Trained by a Kiwi in Mark Nyan, Initiative had really only shown modest form at the Bay in his previous three appearances last year, but travelled sweetly for an eye catching win.

The success moved Haddon to 23 winnners for the season, but his riding premiership rival Scott Hillebrand didn't miss out on the Anzac Day fun by piloting the day's final winner Equitable.

Equitable re-affirmed his ability as a hard horse to catch when winning the Diggers of Gallipoli Handicap (1600m)

For trainer Stephen Brown, it salvaged something out of a day where he scratched live chances Singing Siren, Paternity and Hargitay due to his concerns about the hardness of the Bay track.

Likeable jockey Richie Oakford enjoyed a day out and took the riding honours with a winning double through Phantom Verde (for trainer Gary Clarke) and Notipthis, trained by Alwyn Trengrove.

Story Courtesy Gregor Nactaggart - NT News