Jockeys Paul Denton and Dakota Gillett claimed winning doubles at Alice Springs on Saturday.
Denton, 60, the NT’s eldest active rider, saluted aboard the Kerry Petrick-trained Magic Defense – $4.20 with horse racing bookmakers – over 1200m and Greg Connor’s Quanapirri Bay ($3.40) over 1000m.
Nineteen-year-old apprentice Gillett, the NT’s youngest active rider, booted home Hurn Court ($2.60 fav) over 1200m for her father Terry Gillett and James Carroll’s Jackset ($2.05 fav) in the 1200m maiden.
Magic Defense, formerly trained by Mornington’s Jerome Hunter, made it two wins from as many Pioneer Park starts after winning an 1100m maiden a fortnight ago.
The four-year-old mare missed the start but was second passing the 800m before overtaking Kevin Lamprecht’s pace-setting Frankfurt in the home straight to seal victory by 1.5 lengths.
Quanapirri Bay, victorious in August before coming fifth in September, was never far of the speed before the five-year-old gelding caught Barry Cooke’s Chief White Sock in the home straight to win by three lengths.
Hurn Court, formerly trained by Nyngan’s Rodney Robb, started life in the Alice with two seconds over 1000m in September and 1100m on October 6 at 0-70 level, so he boasted good form.
The seven-year-old gelding dominated the five-horse field on Saturday before overcoming stablemates Valley Prince, aiming for three straight wins, and Ornamental Lady by 2.8 lengths.
Jackset finished half a length behind Magic Defense in second place two weeks ago, so the six-year-old gelding was in the mix, and victory provided Carroll with his first win since July last year with Truckload Of Hoffa.
Gillett had Jackset in front after 100m and he was never in danger of defeat before downing Viney’s Bodmin Boy and Connor’s Dependency by 1.8 lengths.
Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle ($12) had been placed in his past two starts behind Terry Gillett’s impressive duo Altar Boy in June and Beau Factor in August.
The eight-year-old gelding spent the next seven weeks on the sidelines, but he still managed to topple the 0-64 opposition over 1400m.
He was third turning for home before sealing a narrow win over Dan Morgan’s stablemates and pace-makers Zasceed and Barocco Bar.
For winning jockey Ianish Luximon, it was a welcome return after missing two meetings through suspension.
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