Top End trainer Gary Clarke has scratched his main hope from Wednesday’s feature race on Day 6 of the Darwin Cup Carnival, but he has another runner capable of claiming victory.
Clarke omitted the early $3.80 favourite, Wolfburn, from the $40,000 Jaytex Construction Cup (1300m) when it was confirmed on Monday that the four-year-old gelding had qualified for the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) at Fannie Bay on August 7.
Wolfburn was a last-start winner of the Bridge Toyota Cup (1600m) on July 19.
His stablemate Great Diviner, the $5.50 second favourite for Wednesday’s race, is likely to assume favouritism for the handicap at 0-76 level after finishing second in the Bridge Toyota Cup, which was also in 0-76 grade.
2023 Bridge Toyota Cup replay – Wolfburn
Last-start winner Mr Cashman, yet another representative from the Clarke yard, was also withdrawn from Wednesday’s race after his participation in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) this Saturday was confirmed.
Great Diviner, a six-year-old gelding, arrived from SA and debuted for Clarke in Alice Springs in March where he finished fourth over 1000m in BM73 grade – his first start since November, when he was aligned to Adelaide trainer Will Clarken.
The son of Shamus Award had three starts during April’s Alice Springs Cup Carnival and was placed on one occasion, but since arriving in Darwin he has excelled in the higher grades.
Two wins and two seconds in five starts from 1200-1300m preceded the Bridge Toyota Cup.
Gate 10 in the 11-horse field will test Great Diviner on Wednesday after starting from the inside barrier in his past four starts, but he does bring good form to the table.
Looking at the form guide, the likes of Kerry Petrick’s pair Throw At Da Stumps and New Roman, Nicky Irwin’s Versetto, Neil Dyer’s Munster, Dick Leech’s Halgard and Chris Nash’s Bullinachinashop are in the mix.
Wolfburn, with a rating of 76, was 11th in the Darwin Cup order of merit heading into Metric Mile (1600m) last weekend, where the winner would earn exemption into the 12-horse field for next Monday’s feature.
Wolfburn, who won the Darwin Guineas (1600m) before finishing second in the NT Derby (2050m) last year, dropped to 12th in the qualifying process following the win by Chloe Baxter’s He’s The Ultimate in the Metric Mile.
Clarke, who just sealed his 11th-straight Top End trainers’ premiership, originally entered Wolfburn in the Jaytex Construction Cup as security just in case he needed to pick up points with either a win or minor placing to make the Darwin Cup.
With Wolfburn’s spot in the Darwin Cup assured, Clarke scratched him on Monday and he will now be kept in cotton wool before contesting the NT’s biggest race.
“I had him in the race on Wednesday as a precaution in case something was able to leapfrog him into the Cup,” Clarke said.
“He was originally the 11th qualifier, but the win by He’s The Ultimate bumped him down to 12.
“We were just covering our bases, but when it was confirmed that he had qualified we decided to scratch him – he’ll be nice and fresh for the Cup.”
At this stage, Wolfburn will be joined in the Darwin Cup by stablemates Grandslam, Thought Of That and Siakam as Clarke aims for back-to-back wins after Playoffs saluted a year ago.
2022 Darwin Cup replay – Playoffs
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