Victorian apprentice Makisha Salter once again tasted success on her return to Darwin’s Fannie Bay on Saturday.
In the absence of apprentice Emma Lines, who sits second in the Top End and Country jockeys’ premiership, Salter had a full book of rides on the six-event program for trainer Phil Cole.
Salter, sidelined for three months due to injury before returning to action in late May, ended the day with back to back wins with Plague Stone ($4.20) getting home over 1200m (0-64) and Rhesus ($1.95 fav) winning on his Darwin debut in a 1200m maiden.
The 23-year-old saluted on Peter Stennett’s The Albion when she made her first trip north last September before returning a fortnight later to win on Chris Nash’s Ideas Man.
Based in Mornington, Salter rides for trainers Ash and Amy Yargi – Amy is the sister of Darwin trainer Pat Johnston and that’s how the apprentice, who claims 3kg, ended up in the NT.
Plague Stone was a last start winner at Tennant Creek on May 18 and settled third before making his move at the final bend.
The eight-year-old gelding, a son of Lonhro, went on with it in the home straight to overcome the 10-year-old Star Of Monsoon ($17), seven lengths adrift of the leader in sixth place at the 600m, by 1.5 lengths and Daniher ($4.80).
Rhesus arrived from the James Cumming stable after two seconds at Wyong and Kembla Grange before winning a 900m Darwin trial on May 28 and he was at one stage shortened to $1.65 on Saturday with the top online bookmakers.
Settling midfield, the three-year-old gelding continued to make ground down the side before Salter went four deep turning for home and it was all over passing the 100m with the son of Lonhro overcoming a gallant Call It A Loan ($13) by two lengths with Valkur ($7.50) third.
Gary Clarke’s Rising Sphere ($3.30 fav), with Jarrod Todd aboard, took out the feature race over 1100m (BM76) when he hit the front at the 900m before downing Star Magnum ($4.20) and Mr Have A Chat ($3.70), who shared the early lead with the winner, by 1.5 lengths.
Rising Sphere, a six-year-old gelding by Exosphere, jumped from the inside gate and never left the fence to make five wins and seven minor placings from 16 Fannie Bay starts.
Clarke and Todd combined for a winning double when Bel Suono ($2.40 fav) snuck home by a head from Rising Fire ($4.60) over 1300m (0-58) with Roulette Queen ($6) third.
Bel Suono, a six-year-old mare by Nicconi, led early after jumping from the outside gate, but had to work hard all the way down the home straight to thwart Rising Fire, who now boasts eight minor placings from 12 Top End starts.
After sharing the early lead, Chole Baxter’s Shecanmixit ($2.80 fav), a last start winner in February, edged clear turning for home before apprentice Jade Hampson was able to secure victory by 0.9 lengths from Scudetto ($5.50) and the fast-finishing Capistan ($3.20).
For Shecanmixit, a five-year-old mare by Danerich, that’s three wins from five Darwin starts.
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