Darwin trainer Chris Pollard had cause to celebrate on Saturday when eight-year-old gelding A Big Chance won the $35,000 Kununurra Cup (1800m).
Ridden by NSW jockey Michael Heagney, who has spent the past four months riding in WA, the son of Shinzig – $7.50 with the top Australian bookmakers – pounced at the 400m approaching the home turn before powering away to win by 3.6 lengths.
Second behind Tayarn Halter’s Raffalli ($5.50) exiting the home straight the first time, A Big Chance settled in fourth place before clicking into gear to provide the NT with its third straight Cup win, Lunch Session (2022) and Boom Boom Sweet (2023).
For Pollard, who won the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) with Early Crow during the Darwin Cup Carnival in early August, he finally tasted success with A Big Chance after 14 attempts.
When trained by Jan Aitkenhead in Brisbane, the gelding had 64 starts for six wins and 11 minor placings.
Pollard’s Corden ($5.50), Roy Rogers’ Mr Mt Walker ($3.60) and Boom Boom Sweet ($2.90 fav) finished second, third and fifth in the Cup – Raffalli was fourth and Petrick’s Dip Me Lid ($12) finished at the tail in sixth place.
For Pollard, a regular visitor to Kununurra, he now boasts 15 wins and 26 minor placings from 79 starters after three wins on Saturday.
Boomerconi ($31) stormed home late to get the cash over 1100m (RTG48) and Kumicho ($3.90) finished strongly over 1100m (RTG56) with Perth jockey Austin Galati in the saddle.
Although Boom Boom Sweet disappointed in the Cup, Alice Springs trainer Petrick – the winner of four races last Saturday – still landed a double on the second day of racing at Kununurra.
With Alice Springs jockey Paul Denton aboard, Throw At Da Stumps ($1.65 fav) made it back-to-back wins over 1200m (RTG62) and Princess Pancakes ($2.60 fav) bounced back after running second the previous week to salute over 1350m (RTG56).
Albany trainer Roy Rogers made it a winning double in as many weeks when Playin’ Hardball ($3.50), ridden by Tweed Heads jockey Chris Taylor – who landed a treble on Day 1 – prevailed over 1600m (RTG56) and Ezelove ($7), with Galati on board, left it late before saluting over 1350m (RTG48).
Meanwhile, Darwin trainer Phil Cole had two wins at the Betoota meeting in Queensland on Saturday with Awen ($1.60 fav), ridden by Alice Springs apprentice Dakota Gillett, and Turnstar ($4), ridden by Barcaldine apprentice Kelsy Lenton.
Cole trained the first three horses across the line in the race won by Turnstar with Lord Fenrir ($5) and Preconi ($1.60 fav) filling the minor placings, while Saccharo ($2) was fourth in the Betoota Cup (1600m).
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