The Gary Clarke-trained Bel’s Banner continued her rich vein of form since returning from a spell by taking out the feature at Darwin on Tuesday.
After sitting at the tail of the field in the $26,300 Anzac Day Open Handicap (1100m), Bel’s Banner ($4.80 with horse betting sites) picked up speed at the 400m approaching the home turn with rider Jarrod Todd electing to stick to the fence.
Once straightening, the seven-year-old mare continued to gain momentum and at the 200m looked to split El Magnificence ($6.50), who was camped on the rails, and Blueberry Boy ($5) when it appeared as though the pair would fight it out down the home straight.
The Phil Cole-trained El Magnificence (Vanessa Arnott) refused to yield as the Tom Logan-trained Blueberry Boy (Sonja Wiseman) fell away, but in the end Bel’s Banner caught the gallant El Magnificence to win by 0.42 lengths.
It was revenge for Bel’s Banner, a last start winner over 1000m (0-70) on April 14, after she succumbed to El Magnificence by 0.3 lengths over 1100m (0-70) on March 24 first up after eight months on the sideline.
The daughter of Starspangledbanner has now won five races from 10 starts for Clarke since arriving from Victoria in October 2021 when she initially won three on the bounce – that also includes two seconds at Fannie Bay.
El Magnificence is also in good nick and was aiming for three straight wins, and in the end was unlucky not to prevail in the seven-horse field after sharing the early lead with Logan’s Fromthenevernever ($2.80 fav) and Clarke’s Mr Cashman ($11).
Blueberry Boy, also returning from a spell, broke away from Cole’s stablemates Cielo D’Oro ($6) and Brazenpine ($21) at the 500m and posed the biggest threat before settling for third.
Apprentice Emma Lines celebrated her first winning double since making her debut in December when she booted Afternoon Tea ($2.40 fav) and Soul Spirit ($3 eq fav) home for the Cole stable.
They were back to back wins as well with the 16-year-old embracing Phil Cole, as well as wife Rhonda, after returning to the mounting yard aboard Soul Spirit.
Afternoon Tea, a five-year-old mare by Foxwedge, was returning from a spell having last raced on Melbourne Cup Day and basically led from start to finish to seal a two length win over 1200m (BM54).
Cole’s Ye Hella (Arnott), a $3.80 hope, and Tayarn Halter’s Raffalli (Paul Shiers), a $4.40 chance, shared the early lead before Afternoon Tea skipped away from second-placed Ye Hella and Raffalli.
Afternoon Tea looked the winner at the home turn with Raffalli finishing well to grab second from the tiring Ye Hella – victory made it eight career wins for Lines.
Soul Spirit sat outside Halter’s Don’t Wait (Jade Hampson) from the outset over 1200m (0-64) and together they dominated the race before Lines’ mount, a four-year-old mare by Domesday, slipped away at the 100m to win by a length and a half.
Don’t Wait ($14), back on deck after a six month break, held on for second from Clarke’s last start winner Patria (Todd), a $6 pick, who filled the minor placings, while the in-form Archie James ($3 eq fav) finished seventh.
It was back to back wins for Soul Spirit from as many starts in the Top End after arriving from Queensland following victory over 1000m (Class 2) on March 31.
The Peter Stennett-trained New Enterprise (Stan Tsaikos) finally enjoyed Darwin success at the fourth attempt following his arrival from Victoria after producing an outstanding win over 1300m (Class 2).
A four-year-old gelding by Anacheeva, New Enterprise ($6.50) was a last start third – albeit by half a length – over 1600m (BM65), so he had the stamina before posting his second win from 13 starts.
New Enterprise was camped outside fellow leaders Cisapline ($4.20), who held the fence, and Bartolini ($2 fav) when they jumped with the trio kicking clear before New Enterprise went to the front at the 700m after exiting the back straight.
Turning for home with 350m to go, Stennett, who celebrated his last win with Kent Street last July, had every reason to be confident, but in the closing stages New Enterprise tired before thwarting Ella Clarke’s fast-finishing Cisapline (Todd) by a nose with Cole’s Bartolini (Lines) a distant third.
Winning form was the order of the day as Logan’s Zip Lane (Wiseman) also made it back to back victories in the last race over 1100m (0-58), although it was New Year’s Eve when the five-year-old mare by Nicconi saluted for the Halter stable.
One For Anna and Fraction Late, the $1.50 favourite, pinched a break after the start and were well clear down the side with 600m to go – and there didn’t seem to be any danger emanating from the back of the pack as they were well adrift of the runaway leaders.
Turning for home, David Bates’ Fraction Late (Shiers), a narrow second over 1100m (0-58) on April 14 after seven months in the paddock, kicked clear before Zip Lane ($12), who joined the chasing pack after jumping from a wide gate and settling at the rear in the eight-horse field, sprang to life.
The mare gave the leader a fair start turning for home, but by the 200m she was in full flight and managed to catch Fraction Late to win by half a length with Halter’s $17 contender Hattan Man (Hampson), yet another returning from a spell, running a solid third.
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