They’ve dominated the 2023/24 Top End season, so it’s no surprise that trainer Gary Clarke and jockey Jarrod Todd claimed the $135,000 NT Derby (2050m) at Fannie Bay on Saturday
For Clarke, it was his second Derby after Finke’s 2016 triumph, while for Todd, it was his second victory after guiding Royal Request home in 2014 for Neil Dyer.
Day 4 of the Carnival was a big occasion for Clarke and Todd, with the trainer landing a treble and the jockey sealing four wins.
That made it 64 wins for Clarke and 57 wins for Todd for the season, with the pair set to win their 12th and fifth straight Top End and Country premierships, respectively.
Masatora, who started at $21 with the top online bookmakers, jumped from gate eight in the 12-horse field and was among six horses vying for the early lead passing the winning post the first time before settling in ninth place when forced three deep exiting the home straight.
Into the back straight, Masatora had made ground and was sixth as the Paul Gardner-trained Better Not Fuss (Kyra Yuill), winner of the NT Guineas (1600m) in Alice Springs in April, held sway out in front.
Phil Cole’s Rhesus (Emma Lines) was fifth passing the 1000m, while Sheila Arnold’s $3.70 Neds favourite Gifted Gamer (Mark Pegus), Kym Healy’s He’s Maverick (Sonja Logan) and Dyer’s Unquestionably (Noel Callow) were well adrift.
Better Not Fuss led by four lengths turning for home, but the backmarkers were winding up with Masatora, He’s Maverick and Gifted Gamer heading wide, and Unquestionably sticking to the fence.
Masatora caught Better Not Fuss with 100m to go to seal victory by 1.5 lengths from the fast-finishing He’s Maverick and Unquestionably, with Better Not Fuss pipping Gifted Gamer for fourth place.
Darwin Guineas winner He’s Maverick jumped from gate 11 in his quest to seal the Darwin Double $50,000 bonus as winner of the Guineas and Derby.
It was never going to be an easy task for He’s Maverick to seal victory when forced five deep turning for home.
Unquestionably, a disappointing ninth in the Guineas hit back in style, while Gifted Gamer, who hadn’t raced or trialled at Fannie Bay despite bringing decent Victorian form to town, finished 3.7 lengths adrift of the winner.
2024 NT Derby Replay – Masatora
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