Veteren sprinter Phantom Verde continues to get better with age, demolishing a strong field in the feature at Fannie Bay yesterday.
Phantom Verde was heavily backed from $4.60 into $2.80 and didn't let his supporters down, running over the top of early leaders Far Horizons and Tan Tat Jet at the top of the straight and coming away for an easy victory.
Backing up after finishing a close fourth first-up last week, the Gary Clarke-trained eight-year-old showed he has returned to the form that saw him win five of eight starts in his last campaign.
"He's just come back as good as he went out," Clarke said.
"We've worked him out on the training track.
"He is happy where he is and hopefully he can keep it going."
It completed a double for Oakford, who steered Messi Magic home in a strong first-up performance.
Prepared by Alwyn Trengrove, Messi Magic recorded his second Top End victory, holding off a fast-finishing Singing Siren with outsider Avidson back in third.
Colin Haddon also collected a double with wins aboard Yoshi Boy and Spend The Money.
Yoshi Boy, from the Bob Richard yard, made a terrific impression in his Darwin debut, sitting just off the speed before running home strongly to win from odds-on favourite Ashford by a length and a half.
The pair cleared out from the rest of the field and recorded a smart 1:09.99 for the 1200m, suggesting there are bigger things in store for both of them.
Spend The Money grew wings down the straight to pip The Bean Counter in the last, Haddon lifting Lynne Williams' galloper home in the last couple of bounds.
All jockeys wore black armbands during the race, in honour of young hoop Reece Potter who died from severe head injuries after a fall in country NSW last Saturday.
The other race was taken out by Only For You, a terrific rail-hugging ride from Barry Huppatz guiding Stephen Brown's galloper home.
Story courtesy of Tom Biddington, NT News
