NT showdown
Thu, December 01 2011
Territory speedsters The Soldier and Canali will square off against a quality field in Saturday's feature event at Caulfield, the $90,000 65-Roses Victoria Cup (1100m).
The duo were scheduled to meet at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago, only for The Soldier to be scratched, while Canali had little luck on his way to an eighth place.
The Soldier, who has been trained to 22 career wins by renowned Alice Springs trainer Ken Rogerson, is currently under the care of Byron Cozamanis. Peter Mertens, a regular visitor to the Top End for the Darwin Cup Carnival, will ride The Soldier at 53.5kg.
Canali again has the services of Stephen Baster and is one of two runners for top Darwin trainer Stephen Brown at Caulfield.
Brown will also saddle up last-start Moe winner Bolton in the Engagepeople Plate (1400m).
All three Territory horses fared well at the barrier draw with Canali coming up with three, The Soldier five and Bolton drawn the one pole for his assignment.
It says plenty about the Darwin Cup's appeal that the Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock syndicate has launched a bid to win our richest race in 2012.
As mentioned in Tuesday's editions of the NT News, the syndicate has purchased Sydney middle-distance performer Syreon for a reported $80,000 figure.
Syreon might be an eight-year-old and will be nine by the time next year's Cup is contested, but he has the credentials to be a live contender, particularly if he reproduces his autumn carnival form.
Winning the Group 3 Queen's Cup grabs attention, but so do performances such as his third placing behind My Kingdom of Fife in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at weight-for-age level and a fourth in the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) won by Secret Admirer, both on heavy tracks.
It will be a good fillip for young Top End trainer Jason Manning that he will oversee Syreon's carnival preparation.
Darwin trainer Kerry Petrick is off to campaign in Adelaide and leading her charge will be Saturday's impressive Fannie Bay winner I Am Magic.
The four-year-old produced the day's most emphatic performance when he saluted by more than five lengths in the Rating 70 Handicap (1200m). Winning jockey Phillip Crich said I Am Magic would be the first horse on the truck and it is pretty clear to see why when you have a look at the four-year-old's Bay record, which now reads three wins and six minor placings from 10 appearances.
Joining Petrick on the way down the Stuart Highway are The Cat, Rhodes To Glory and Indeed I Am.
Good to see Chris Pollard scoop the day's training honours with a winning double at the Bay.
Pollard has 22 horses in work and has built his team up from scratch after taking out his licence some four years ago.
Not For Profit was a smart winner of the maiden, while Alana's Mate won the mile in comfortable fashion as fancied pair Seven Bridges and Rhodes To Glory went terribly.
Pollard, who is also a farrier, has trained 58 career winners, 48 of which have come at his home track.
The win of Members Joy at Sandown on Saturday got me thinking. The two-year-old is owned by the members of the Melbourne Racing Club, a smart idea from executive Josh Rodder.
I reckon it is a bloody good idea, not just to get more people at the races, but also encourage people to take out membership of clubs.
Hopefully we'll see something similar done by the Darwin and Alice Springs Turf Clubs.
As I reported recently, female jockeys saluted in all four races at Fannie Bay on November 12, but what I didn't mention was the four horses were also of the female variety.
I must admit that one slipped under my guard, so thanks to our eagle-eyed Darwin judge Ken Hatfield for letting me know.
Former Darwin trainer Kathy Hughes is smiling after training her first quinella this week since moving to Malaysia.
Only One Will Win lived up to his name when he scored an all-the-way victory at Selangor Turf Club in the Evita Peroni Stakes (1800m).
The five-year-old Australian-bred galloper beat home stablemate Conundrum by a half-length.
Hughes narrowly missed out on a double as Locus Standi went down by a half-length to favourite Good Planning in the Fashion on the Turf Trophy (1400m).
The move to Alice Springs from Central Queensland has certainly paid dividends for Michael Evans.
Evans made it five winners in the space of a week when he punched home a winning treble at Pioneer Park on Sunday.
Since his arrival in the Red Centre late in 2010, Evans has ridden 39 winners and he leads the way in this season's riding premiership with 12.
There is no thoroughbred racing in the Territory this weekend, leaving the way for the greyhounds to take centre stage at Winnellie Park tomorrow night.
Punters can look forward to six races from 7.39pm.
Story courtesy of Gregor Mactaggart, NT News
