It may be an ominous sign.
After a quiet Darwin Cup Carnival, leading NT jockey Paul Denton reminded everyone he was still around when he won the feature race at Fannie Bay on Wednesday.
That was aboard the Stephen Brown-trained six-year-old gelding Pelican Head in the $30,000 Colemans Printing Cup (1300m).
The Carnival reaches its climax with the $120,000 Darwin Airport Resort Palmerston Sprint (1200m) tomorrow followed by the $175,000 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup (2000m) on Monday and Denton is capable of pulling off an unlikely double.
He will ride the Sheila Arnold-trained six-year-old gelding Sense Of Sun in the Palmerston and hopes to contest the Cup aboard the Stephen Brown-trained four-year-old gelding Bolton. As yet, Bolton isn't assured of a start in the NT's biggest race as he is the first emergency in an event that will only accommodate 12 starters.
Bolton would have automatically qualified for the Cup had he won the Metric Mile last weekend, but the Neil Dyer-trained Hawks Bay denied him by a long neck.
"Bolton will be unlucky to miss out on a start in the Cup because he is racing well and Sense Of Sun is a chance on Saturday," Denton said.
Sense Of Sun brought decent Victorian form with him to the Top End and he produced a wonderful effort on debut when he finished third behind Lucid Reflection and Canali - the two hot pots for the Palmerston - in the Darwin City Council WFA (1200m) on July 16.
Denton, who has already won the NT's premier sprinting event on no less than five occasions, is adamant that he is partnering a horse that suites the Palmerston.
"It's a pretty even race this year, but I reckon Sense Of Sun is one of five genuine chances," he said.
"I rode him last Saturday at trackwork and he gave me a good feel, I was very impressed. "To win the Palmerston you need a good horse who can run a solid 1300m and he certainly has raced with consistency over 1300m and 1400m trips in Melbourne."
Apart from his mount, Denton believes that last year's winner Lucid Reflection, Canali, Far Horizons and Hidden Surprise are all capable of winning tomorrow.
Denton is chasing his sixth win in the big race after victories on He Could Be (1983), Ima Realist (1987), Tally Ho (1996 and 1997) and Cashkalani (2005).
Story courtesy of David White, NT News
