Darwin is set to play an important role in the riding comeback of Group 1-winning jockey Shane Scriven.
A regular visitor to the Top End during the Darwin Cup Carnival, Scriven is heading north this time with a different purpose, to get back down to his riding weight.
Scriven has been on the sidelines of late due to recent surgery and told good mate Carl Spry hes put on a few kilograms over the festive season.
Spry, who has been friends with the five-time G1-winning hoop since his apprentice days in southeast Queensland, says Scriven will ride trackwork and some outside labour work during his road back to the saddle.
Scriven has ridden six winners and 13 minor place- getters from 35 mounts in his previous visits to Fannie Bay.
GOOD to see an old-fashioned betting plunge come off at the Bay last Saturday with Buzlightning.
Opening a $7.00 chance with the bookmakers, Buzlightning was crunched into $2.70 and bolted in by seven lengths in the mile race for that man Spry, who rode a winning double.
The victory was the 10th for trainer Louis Paech since he took out his training licence, with just his 26th starter - a fine effort indeed.
HE WON the 2010 Darwin Cup in memorable circumstances aboard Shout Out Loud, but Robbie Fradd finds himself back in South Africa these days.
Fradd produced a gem of a ride to guide Reconcile home in the Pinnacle Stakes (3000m) at Turffontein on New Year's Eve.
Having enjoyed great success in Hong Kong and Singapore, I'm surprised Fradd hasn't given Australia a go on a full-time basis, considering the success enjoyed by countrymen such as Glyn Schofield and Jeff Lloyd.
FANNIE Bay has attracted 41 nominations for Saturday's five-race program.
Yoburg, second on his Bay debut last week, headlines the weights in the Benchmark event with 61.5kg. The next Alice Springs meeting will be on January 15.
DARWIN trainer Stephen Brown has a decision to make with emerging stayer Below.
Brown accepted for a $22,500 Showcase race over 1400m at Ballarat today and a $70,000 race over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday.
Below was handed a top-weight of 59kg for the Ballarat race compared to the 54kg he could carry at Caulfield.
Brown also accepted with recent stable addition Recoup De Fortune at Caulfield, so that may well come into his thinking with Below.
TOP End-owned stayer Right Fong has dual accepted for races either side of the Victoria-South Australia border on Saturday.
He has been handed a top-weight of 59kg for the Spring Gully Handicap (2050m) at Morphettville, but trainer David Balfour kept his options option by accepting for the $70,000 Mal Seccull Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield.
Darwin trainer Kerry Petrick will saddle up Indeed I Am and I Am Magic at Morphettville, while other NT owned runners set to go around include Justify That, Our Iridium and A Wee Dram.
SAD to hear of the recent axing of long-time Victorian racecaller Brian Markovic.
Markovic, who called predominantly through the Gippsland region, was a casualty of the recent shake-up which sees only one racecaller for radio and television at all Victorian meetings.
UNTIL next week, Back a winner.
Story courtesy of Gregor Mactaggart, NT News
