Darwin apprentices Emma Lines and Jade Hampson, as well as senior rider Sonja Logan, have enjoyed plenty of headlines this season.
Lines was the Alice Springs Cup Carnival’s leading rider.
Hampson represented the NT with distinction in the National Apprentice Race Series.
Logan, last season’s top rider in the Alice Springs and Provincial Premierships, is never far from the spotlight.
The trio continue to leave their mark in Darwin and Alice Springs.
On Anzac Day, it was one other senior female jockey who had their moment in the sun, with Vanessa Arnott landing two winners at Fannie Bay.
The day didn’t start well for Arnott, with Patrick Johnston’s Gelata remaining idle in the gates.
It only got better for the experienced hoop with victory aboard Motivated Miss ($5.50) over 1200m (BM54) for trainer and partner Jason Manning before saluting on Peter Stennett’s New Enterprise ($2.70) over 1600m (0-64).
It was Arnott’s first double since Noir De Rue and Motivated Miss prevailed last July during the Darwin Cup Carnival.
Back from a spell, Motivated Miss shared the early lead before making a winning move at the 600m.
The four-year-old mare led comfortably in the home straight before overcoming Gary Clarke’s Captain George ($1.50) by 1.2 lengths, with Manning’s fast-finishing Kirakat ($19) third.
New Enterprise, who has now had 24 Darwin starts since March last year, jumped from a wide gate before joining Phil Cole’s Supermo ($11), who held the fence, out in front passing the 1200m.
The five-year-old gelding by Anacheeva was two lengths clear at the 400m before sealing the deal after Arnott got him home over 1300m (0-64) six days ago.
After six wins and seven minor placings for Stennett, New Enterprise finished 4.7 lengths clear of Supremo and Chris Pollard’s Bart’s Bullet ($11), who was last turning for home.
After last Friday’s treble, Clarke and Jarrod Todd had two wins with Desarmer ($1.65 fav) over 1300m (Class 2) and Wolfburn ($2) – third in last year’s Darwin Cup – in an open 1200m handicap.
Desarmer, a five-year-old gelding by Turn Me Loose, made it two wins from as many starts since arriving from Victoria when he led throughout when toppling stablemate Nassau County ($7) and Cole’s Whitten ($4.20) by 3.4 lengths.
Wolfburn, the son of Snitzel, is back for a third Darwin campaign, and after sharing the early lead with Chole Baxter’s Swing With Junior ($4.80) and Angela Forster’s Zoumist ($5) he eventually flexed some muscle at the 300m.
The 2022 Darwin Guineas and 2023 Toyota Cup winner, defeated Swing With Junior and Clarke’s Siakam ($5.50) by 3.5 lengths.
Husband Tom and wife Sonja Logan were justifiably pleased when four-year-old mare Canada Bay ($3.20), a recent NSW purchase, impressed first up with an emphatic 3.5 lengths win over 1100m (0-58).
The daughter of Vancouver was in front by the 1000m and was in no danger of defeat, with Jo Banks’ Sweet Cheval ($9.50) and Cole’s Lord Fenrir ($4) filling the minor placings.
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