Victorian apprentice Hanna Le Blanc keeps travelling to the NT most weekends, and on Saturday she celebrated a winning treble at Alice Springs.
Le Blanc, based at Glenrowan – located 240km north-east of Melbourne along the Hume Highway, has established herself in the Red Centre and currently sits in equal third place in the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership.
The 29-year-old has 11 wins for the season, along with Paul Denton and Stan Tsaikos, with Sonja Logan in front with 15 wins from apprentice Dakota Gillett with 13 wins.
Starting the day with victory aboard Dick Leech’s first starter Bad Man in an 1100m maiden, Le Blanc then saluted aboard Lisa Whittle’s in-form O’Tycoon and Leech’s new arrival Cavendish.
O’Tycoon – the $1.50 bookmaker favourite with online bookmakers – made it four wins from his last five starts by overcoming Terry Gillett’s Kangaroo Court and Ray Viney’s Kickatorp by 1.4 lengths in an open 1100m handicap.
A five-year-old gelding by Written Tycoon, O’Tycoon – formerly trained by Bjorn Baker at Warwick Farm – wasn’t far away before pouncing at the 400m and is definitely a serious threat in the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on April 5 during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival.
Cavendish, formerly trained by Peter Snowden at Randwick, was an impressive winner on debut at Pioneer Park last Saturday when he dominated throughout before prevailing by 3.8 lengths in a 1400m maiden.
A three-year-old gelding by Capitalist, Cavendish – starting as the favourite against Class 2 opposition over 1400m – was also on the speed before bursting clear at the 400m to win by 4.2 lengths and is undoubtedly the one to beat come the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) on March 22.
It’s likely the suspended Logan would have partnered O’Tycoon, Cavendish and Bad Man, so for Le Blanc the cards fell her way and she capitalised with aplomb with three slashing rides.
Le Blanc, who boasts six Darwin wins this season, agreed to ride in the NT in August 2023 due to a shortage of riders and landed a winner on debut at Alice Springs.
After making two further trips to the Red Centre, Le Blanc has rarely missed a meeting at Alice Springs and Darwin since last August.
Happy to ride throughout Victoria, Tasmania and in southern NSW, Le Blanc booted Greg Connor’s Bold Tropic home last Saturday at Pioneer Park before riding at Caulfield on Monday and Seymour on Wednesday.
The apprentice is aligned to Benalla trainer Wayne Nichols.
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