Trainers Gary Clarke and Tom Logan had winning doubles in Darwin on Friday.
However, it was fellow Top End trainer Jason Manning who claimed the feature race with the in-form Bon’s Pride – a $3.20 favourite with horse racing bookmakers – prevailing in the open 1200m handicap.
For the first time this wet season, it was heavy going at Fannie Bay after 157.8mm of rain this past week, which included 50.8mm on Wednesday.
Clarke celebrated his first double since October 26 with Devil’s Delight saluting over 1200m against Class 2 opposition and Nassau County causing an upset over 1600m at BM76 level.
Jarrod Todd partnered Devil’s Delight and Nassau County after also riding Clarke’s Patriotic King and Nassau County to success last month.
Logan had a good day when Polarising delivered over 1200m in the 0-64 ranks before $2.50 favourite Canada Bay posted back-to-back wins over 1100m at 0-58 level.
It was October 5 when Logan last claimed a double after wife Sonja partnered Astern Magic and Aaron Sweeney piloted Astern Magic.
On Friday, Sonja Logan rode both horses for husband Tom.
It was Sonja Logan’s first Fannie Bay double since the Darwin Cup Carnival on July 20 aboard Chris Pollard’s Early Crow and Heather Lehmann’s Marvelous Night.
As expected, Bon’s Pride, ridden by Vanessa Arnott, worked hard before overcoming Clarke’s stablemates Mr Cashman and Shakattak by a head to make it six wins and five seconds from 13 starts for Manning.
Devil’s Delight lifted late to edge out Phil Cole’s $1.85 favourite Rhesus by a head, while Polarising put paid to Cole’s early leader Tricky Mikki by 3.3 lengths, and Canada Bay pounced in the home straight to beat Neil Dyer’s fast-finishing Hachiman by a length.
Cole’s Tubthumper outclassed Clarke’s handy duo Shakattak and Siakam in open company over 1300m on Melbourne Cup Day, but Nassau County – a last start winner in a 1300m maiden on October 26 – was too good.
Reluctant to enter the gates for Queensland jockey Wanderson D’Avila before setting the early pace, Tubthumper – the odds-on favourite with BlondeBet – capitulated at the 200m with Nassau County winning by 2.4 lengths.
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