Paech, McDuff dazzle

Sun, September 25 2011

LOUIS PAECH and Michael McDuff were the stars of the show at Fannie Bay yesterday, with Darwin's newest trainer sending out a double and McDuff, at the other end of the experience spectrum, booting home a treble.

Paech, 22, only gained his trainer's license a month ago and started in the best possible fashion by winning a race at Birdsville on September 3. However, yesterday was extra special as he was represented by his first winners at his Darwin base.

Let Go Johnny got the ball rolling in race two, the Birch Carroll and Coyle Benchmark 72 Handicap.

With Carl Spry in the saddle, the 6yo, who had finished second in the Birdsville Cup at his last start, enjoyed a lovely run behind the leader Wyreema, and then took an inside gap on the point of the home turn.

However, Wyreema wasn't done with and the pair waged a great home straight battle, with a long neck separating them at the line. Tequila Midnight was almost four lengths back third.

Paech and McDuff then teamed up in the last of the day, the Sportingbet Handicap, with Alcarntspell.

Alcarntspell, Paech's Birdsville winner, finished strongly over the last 100m to collar the pacemaking Thumb Prints to win by a length, with Brinkley Boy, a stablemate of the winner, an eye-catching third.

McDuff, one of Darwin's more senior riders, was back in his best form yesterday. The 42-year-old, who has a wealth of experience and has ridden with success in a number of states and territories, has been troubled just lately with a persistent back problem, but showed that he was over that with a treble.

His first winner came in the day's opener, the NT TAB Class B Handicap, when Meet Barney ran clear of his rivals to win impressively.

Shane Clarke's 5yo, having his second Top End start, finished strongly to down favourite Albert Park Lake and Donut.

McDuff then benefited from leading rider Scott Hillebrand's misfortune to win the Geminex Handicap. Hillebrand was unwell and unable to fulfil his engagements yesterday, and McDuff made the most of his pick-up ride aboard Father's Footsteps.

Trained by Stephen Brown, Father's Footsteps got in the deciding stride under a hard ride to beat pacemaker Laduni by a head, with Fregosi running on strongly into third.

Favourite One Carat gave Brown a double when his daughter Alana combined with One Carat for an all-the-way win in the Women in Thoroughbred Racing NT Handicap.

Story courtesy of NT News, written by Andrew O'Toole