Oakford and Clarke Snare a Fine Brace

Tue, May 11 2010

Evergreen jockey Richie Oakford and astute trainer Gary Clarke made their presence felt with winning doubles in last Friday's shortened Fannie Bay program. The pair completed a bookend brace, making sure a plunge came off in the first through Mahaffey Road before ending the day in style thanks to Phantom Verde.

Mahaffey Road landed some good bets when he bolted in to win the Airnorth Maiden Plate (1200m).

Opening up at $11 with bookies oncourse, Mahaffey Road blew to $13 before being crunched in to $7 ahead of a soft 5 1/2 length success from favourite Mondello.

It was a vastly improved effort by the son of Adventurous who had finished ninth and eighth in his two previous career appearances at Fannie Bay.

Phantom Verde ($4.00 equal favourite) made it two wins on the trot with a polished display to claim the BPW Darwin Sprint (1300m)

Oakford rated the seven year old to absolute perfection for a length win from Depinsky, ridden by Scott Hillebrand.

Hillebrand enjoyed success earlier in the program when Wrencher collected the Skycity Handicap (1000m).

The six year old was sent out a $2.80 favourite behind Gilbeau and Oompa, but raced the better for a three quarter length success.

The beaten pop, Gilbeau, did have an excuse as he hung out badly and changed stride at the 600m mark before working home for third.

And it proved a landmark day for Brendon Davis, who trained his first winner, when he steered Arapaho Heights home in the Carnival Tickets On Sale Now Handicap (1100m).

In his first appearance since being beaten at Pioneer Park in December, the four year old defied his $15 price, beating fellow roughie Dabba Do Time by three-quarters of a length.

Story Courtesy Gregor Mactaggart - NT News