While the Alice Springs Cup Carnival dominates the NT racing scene at this time of year, the Darwin Turf Club will host its annual ANZAC Day meeting at Fannie Bay with a five-race card set down for Tuesday.
It’s a far cry from the Pioneer Sprint, but the $26,300 ANZAC Day BMNT69 Handicap (1100m) has assembled a competitive seven-horse field with all runners bringing respectable form to the table.
The Gary Clarke-trained Bel’s Banner (Jarrod Todd) is backing up following a commanding 2.5-length win over 1000m (0-70) last start and will more than likely jump as favourite.
An early $2.80 favourite, the seven-year-old mare returned from a seven-month spell in March and finished second by 0.3 lengths behind the Phil Cole-trained El Magnificence over 1100m (0-70).
Bel’s Banner was a solid performer in Queensland and Victoria, but it was after arriving in the Top End in late 2021 that her stocks soared when she won her first three races.
A second behind Poupee, who will contest the Pioneer Sprint this weekend, in the ANZAC Day feature a year ago was followed by a fifth and a fourth at 0-76 level before a fifth behind Valentina Star in the $30,000 Rose Bowl over 1300m (0-70) for the fillies and mares last July during the Darwin Cup Carnival.
El Magnificence, who arrived in Darwin via Victoria, NSW and SA, debuted at Fannie Bay in March last year and after winning over 1100m (0-58) the eight-year-old gelding has won a further four from 12 starts – and has finished third on six occasions.
The son of Magnus is aiming for three straight wins and before pipping Bel’s Banner on March 24 he overcame last-start winner Patria, who will feature over 1200m (0-64) on Tuesday, over 1100m (0-64) on March 4.
El Magnificence once again spots Bel’s Banner 1.5kg on ANZAC Day, but with the benefit of the inside gate it could be another significant win for the Cole stable following Saccharo’s success in the $40,000 Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) in Alice Springs on Saturday.
With regular rider Wayne Davis, who was aboard Saccharo on Saturday, remaining in Alice Springs, Vanessa Arnott will partner El Magnificence, the early $3.50 second favourite, for the first time.
“El Magnificence is racing really well and has only finished out of a place twice since coming to Darwin,” Arnott said.
“That’s pretty good form and hopefully he can make it three in a row on Tuesday, no doubt Phil will have him in good order.
“You’d have to say he is a chance and Bel’s Banner will be tough to beat, but I’ll have to be on my toes as there are more than just a few handy horses in the race.
“The Cole stable is buoyant after the win by Saccharo on Saturday and Smuggling, who has won the last two Pioneer Sprints, also ran a good third in the 1200m weight-for-age.
“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens, but I’m more than happy to have picked up the ride on El Magnificence.”
Two other Cole starters in Cielo D’Oro and Brazenpine, Clarke’s other runner in Mr Cashman, and Tom Logan’s stablemates Fromthenevernever and Blueberry Boy make up the field in the ANZAC feature, and all are capable of winning if the cards fall their way.
Meanwhile, WA jockey Jessica Valenti, based at Karnup just south of Perth, has a full book of rides for trainers Chris Pollard and Cole at Fannie Bay this Tuesday on her first visit to Darwin since Melbourne Cup Day in 2021.
From October to November that year, Valenti – who was Jessica Gray back then before marrying WA trainer Yannick Valenti – featured at four meetings in Darwin and one meeting in Alice Springs.
It was three wins, a second and a third from 15 rides at Fannie Bay, as well as two wins, a second and a third from four rides at Pioneer Park.
Valenti’s bookings on her NT return are Miss Epernay (Race 1), All Hard Wood (Race 2), Stars The Limit (Race 3) and Brimarvi Rooboy (Race 5) for Pollard, and Brazenpine (Race 4) for Cole.
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