Venting, last year’s NT Derby winner, made it two wins at Fannie Bay on Saturday, but a spot in this year’s $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) is not guaranteed.
With a 66 rating, the Kerry Petrick-trained four-year-old gelding would need to increase that to around 70 to contest the NT’s biggest race on August 7.
Victory in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m), Buntine Handicap (2050m) or Metric Mile (1600m) during the Darwin Cup Carnival would secure a berth, but picking up the necessary points won’t be easy.
The son of Star Witness got his Cup quest rolling on the weekend by finishing strongly to seal victory over 1600m (0-64) as the $2.60 favourite.
Venting was the last of seven at the 1200m before jockey Paul Denton flicked the switch down the side at the 500m after making ground to sit in fifth place.
Heather Lehmann’s Marvelous Night (Sonja Wiseman) led early and was two lengths clear at the 350m turning for home, but Gary Clarke’s Tiara Jewel (Jarrod Todd), Neil Dyer’s Hettinger (Jade Hampson) and Petrick’s Mangione (Adam Nicholls) threatened.
Venting gradually bridged the gap down the outside, edging out Marvelous Night ($11) by 0.72 of a length with Mangione ($4.40) pipping Hettinger ($3.50), a Darwin winner on debut last week, for third.
In his Fannie Bay comeback three weeks ago, Venting ($1.80 fav) was second behind I’m A Dreamer after spotting Tayarn Halter’s galloper 5.5kg.
Darwin R5 replay – 0-64 Handicap (1600m)
Winner: Venting
After bringing a team to the Top End once again from Murray Bridge, Lehmann celebrated success when three-year-old filly Lucky Fortuna (Emma Lines) saluted over 1200m (Class 2) after finishing a respectable fourth in her NT debut over 1000m (Class 2) a fortnight ago.
Camped on the rails in fifth place at the 600m, Lucky Fortuna ($4.80) accelerated with Lines electing to go five wide at the turn to catch I’m Dun Deelin’ ($61), Fraction Late ($2.45 fav), Wilsons Prom ($12) and Lastar ($8).
It was a lottery at the 200m, but the flying Lucky Fortuna sealed a spectacular win by 1.94 lengths from Clarke’s Wilsons Prom (Todd), back from a spell, with Paul Gardner’s I’m Dun Deelin’ (Wayne Davis), who led from the 1100m, a narrow third from Halter’s Fischer (Hampson), a clear last after blowing the start.
Lines, 17, who started her apprenticeship in December, has now ridden 15 winners in the Top End premiership and sits outright third behind Todd (32) and Wiseman (29).
Darwin R3 replay – Class 2 Handicap (1200m)
Winner: Lucky Fortuna
Trainer Chris Pollard is having a good season and four-year-old gelding Star Of Limit (Mark Pegus) made it a 12th win for the stable when he produced a late finishing burst to sink his rivals by 3.71 lengths over 1100m (0-58).
Sitting ninth at the rear when they jumped, Stars The Limit ($6) wasn’t far away and by the 500m the son of Star Turn started to make ground from seventh place when Pegus left the fence.
Phil Cole’s Laylah’s Wish (Lines), a last start winner, and Clarke’s Patriotic King (Todd) shared the early lead and were still battling it out once turning for home after skipping clear of Del Viento ($4.20 fav), Fragore ($6), Lamoree ($14) and All Stardom ($26).
With 200m to go, Stars The Limit was storming down the middle of the track and it was all over at the 100m with Logan’s Fragore (Wiseman) running on nicely for second and Laylah’s Wish doing a good job to finish third.
It was Stars The Limit’s first Darwin win from seven appearances – his only other win from 13 career starts was a 900m Murray Bridge maiden on Australia Day last year.
Darwin R4 replay – 0-58 Handicap (1100m)
Winner: Stars The Limit
It was yet another win for a backmarker when the Gardner-trained Glacier Grey (Hampson) from Alice Springs saluted over 1600m (0-58) when five horses were in contention at the 200m.
Glacier Grey, a four-year-old gelding by Frosted, settled sixth along the back and was six lengths behind the leader Boogie Nights (Nicholls) passing the 900m.
Approaching the home turn, Glacier Grey was fifth before Hampson left the fence and with 150m to go he, Boogie Nights, Sweet As Scandi (Pegus) – who challenged Boogie Nights for the lead at the 600m – and the fast-finishing Go Bundle (Wiseman) fought it out.
In the end Glacier Grey, who had momentum, edged clear to sneak home from Pollard’s Go Bundle ($2.60 fav) and Lehmann’s courageous Boogie Nights ($8) with Halter’s Kippax (Paul Shiers) motoring home to deny Kevin Lamprecht’s Sweet As Scandi fourth place.
Glacier Grey had 12 starts in Victoria and SA for just one win and in seven starts for the Gardner stable his only other win was over 1200m (0-70) at Tennant Creek on May 13.
Darwin R6 replay – 0-58 Handicap (1600m)
Winner: Glacier Grey
More horse racing news
