Darwin trainer Phil Cole ended the week on a good note when two “veteran stars” saluted at Fannie Bay on Friday.
El Magnificence ($2.30 fav) made it back to back wins after sneaking home over 1100m (070), while the ever-consistent Looking For You ($4) dominated his rivals over 1600m (BM54).
Cole achieved success in the last two races during the Darwin Turf Club’s twilight meeting, with veteran jockey Wayne Davis partnering the stablemates.
By landing a double, Cole made it 18 wins for the season to reduce Gary Clarke’s lead in the Top End Country trainer’s premiership to 10 – Clarke won the opening race on the four-event program.
It’s been a while since Davis, who has battled injury this season, has landed a winning double Fannie Bay and he now sits in outright third place in the jockey’s premiership with 11 victories.
El Magnificence, an eight-year-old gelding, was backing up after a last start win over 1100m (0-64) on March 4 when he basically led from start to finish after Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon produced a super ride.
On Friday, the son of Magnus was happy to settle outside Gary Clarke’s $3.20 betting sites hope Bel’s Banner (Jarrod Todd) after a hectic start when all five runners vyed for the early lead.
Bel’s Banner, returning from an eight-month lay off, wasn’t willing to give up the lead and once turning for home it was clear El Magnificence had a battle on his hands.
It was only in the final 50m that Cole’s horse edged clear to overcome Clarke’s horse by a neck with Cole’s $5 chance Meadows Young Buck (Vanessa Arnott), eighth in the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) last Saturday, three lengths adrift in third place.
24/3/23 Darwin Race 3 Replay – El Magnificence (1st)
Having raced in Victoria, NSW and SA before arriving in the NT, El Magnificence made it win five wins from 13 appearances for Cole and after a winning debut in Darwin 12 months ago he has only missed finishing among the placegetters twice.
It was also his 50th career start on Friday where he has now tasted success 10 times and finished among the minor placings on 13 occasions.
Looking For You, also an eight-year-old gelding, was making his 60th career start in the very next race and it ended up being a one-act affair as he was never in danger of defeat after claiming an early lead.
Of his 56 starts at Fannie Bay, it was the former Victorian galloper’s seventh start over 1600m – he has now improved that record to two wins and three seconds.
It was also Looking For You’s eighth start since Melbourne Cup Day and despite proving competitive during that period it seemed as though the paddock beckoned after finishing last in a field of 10 over 1200m (BM54) on March 4.
Not to be as the son of Astronomer Royal backed up a fortnight later to finish third over 1300m (0-58) before bouncing back to winning form.
That improved his record in Darwin to 56-12-9-9-9 after making a winning debut in December 2018.
Not long after the start on Friday, Tayarn Halter’s Fischer (Paul Shiers) suddenly reared and bucked after sitting behind Looking For You with the $3.20 favourite unable to settle down before losing touch with the field.
It was totally out of character for Fischer, but it ended his race and after falling back other runners took evasive action before the seven-horse field were strung out like brown cows once entering the back straight.
With Fischer out of contention, the other runners finally regathered their bearings – but once exiting the back straight and with 800m to Looking For You held a comfortable lead.
Approaching the final bend, Looking For You was easily eight lengths clear and was never in danger of defeat once turning for home to overcome Halter’s $7.50 fancy Karaoke Express (Jade Hampson), who was courageous, by 3.72 lengths.
Clarke’s $5.50 runner Captain Hedderwick (Todd), the only horse in front of Fischer in the back straight, rallied during the second half of the race despite finishing well back in third place.
Mark Nyhan’s $3.60 contender Halogem (Sonja Wiseman), who normally settles at the back of the pack before producing a whirlwind finish, was off his game on Friday as he was well off the pace at the start and had nothing left in the tank at the finish before coming fourth.
To cap off an excellent win, Looking For You cracked the $200,000 mark in stakes.
24/3/23 Darwin Race 4 Replay – Looking For You (1st)
As mentioned, the Clarke stable won the first race when five-year-old mare Thunder Peak (Todd) made it back to back wins after prevailing over 1300m (0-64).
The five-year-old mare jumped well and found the rails before settling in third place behind the leaders Del Viento (Shiers), from the Chloe Baxter stable, and Bartolini (Davis), from the Cole yard.
Del Viento ($1.85 fav), hugging the rails, and Bartolini ($6) led at the 400m approaching the final bend before Thunder Peak ($4.20), who was cruising, swung to the outside once turning for home to gobble up the leaders with 200m left to go.
Thunder Peak, who wouldn’t look out of place in the Queen of the Desert (1200m) during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival according to Fannie Bay race-caller Craig Sant, may have been lucky to win last start on March 4 when the saddle slipped on the runner-up Archie James, but on Friday the daughter of Vancouver was emphatic.
Del Viento, scratched last Saturday after bolting prior to the start, had every chance, but could only manage third place with Bartolini finishing two lengths adrift of the winner in second place.
24/3/23 Darwin Race 1 Replay – Thunder Peak (1st)
The Tom Logan-trained Beau Flyer (Wiseman), yet another $1.85 favourite, finally posted that first win at the eighth attempt after getting home by the skin of his teeth over 1200m in a race for the Class 2 and maiden performers aged three years and above.
After five starts in Queensland, the five-year-old son of Brazen Beau managed two seconds in two Darwin maidens over 1200m – when he made his debut in February – and 1000m a week ago.
Beau Flyer was happy to sit outside stablemate Battle Class (Shiers) out in front in the early stages with Patrick Johnston’s $4 starter Gotta Beat (Hampson) and Peter Stennett’s $11 potential Bluffed (Todd) not too far away.
In the home straight and with 300m to go, Beau Flyer (59kg) had dispensed with Battle Class ($4.20) as the diminutive Gotta Beat (54.5kg) finished strongly along the rails to make it tough going for the odds-on favourite.
Beau Flyer got the verdict from a gallant Gotta Beat in the bob of the heads crossing the line, while Battle Class edged out Bluffed for third.
At the end of the day, Wiseman (25) still maintained a healthy lead over Todd (20) in the jockey’s premiership and Logan (15) joined Halter in equal third place in the trainer’s premiership.
24/3/23 Darwin Race 2 Replay – Beau Flyer (1st)
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