It’s hard not to be a fan of Alice Springs mare Desert Lass.
The seven-year-old daughter of Rock Hero rarely runs a bad race and is arguably the most popular horse running around in the Red Centre.
Paul Gardner’s mare Roughly, an 11-year-old these days, was praised throughout the NT after endless success late last year and early this year before succumbing to injury in March.
Whether Roughly will return is not clear, but in her absence, the Carrol Hunter-trained Desert Lass has inherited the torch.
After two starts in the Top End, where she finished sixth in the Metric Mile (1600m) on July 29 and the Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 7, Desert Lass returned to Pioneer Park before winning impressively over 1400m (BM66) on August 25.
Sharing the early lead and sitting three wide, Desert Lass slipped to third and appeared in trouble before recovering in the home straight to seal victory in the shadows of the post with a late finishing burst.
Adelaide-based apprentice Jade Doyle, born and raised in Alice Springs, rode the mare to victory that day, but Darwin-based jockey Casey Hunter is back in the saddle when Desert Lass lines up in open company over 1400m on Sunday.
Casey Hunter, Desert Lass’ partner in the 2023 Alice Springs and Darwin Cups, has a very high opinion of the horse.
“She’s been a bit of a marvel; she’s been really good and has done a super job this prep,” she said.
“She’s been a really handy horse for Carrol and her owners.
“The mare is probably my favourite horse at the moment, actually.
“She’s just tough and consistent and tries so hard.
“Can sit anywhere; she can be back, she can be forward.
“I’d say that probably puts her in a different category.”
Ray Viney’s five-year-old gelding Kickatorp, a revelation since arriving from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, poses a serious threat in the feature race on the Alice Springs Turf Club’s six-event program.
Following a narrow second on debut over 1100m (0-66) on Alice Springs Cup Day in April, Kickatorp returned in June to win over 1100m (Class 2) before two seconds behind Terry Gillett’s outstanding Supreme Attraction over 1100m (BM76) in July and Lisa Whittle’s Lastar in the Red Centre Winter Series Final over 1200m (BM66) in August.
Kickatorp was too good for his rivals as a $1.75 bookmaker favourite over 1200m (BM76) two weeks ago when he prevailed by four lengths, so an intriguing battle with Desert Lass awaits.
Desert Lass ($2.50) and Kickatorp ($2.80) dominated the early market.
Fantasy Eagle, Zelring, and Lethal Encounter are handy on their day, but they would have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to win on Sunday.
Desert Lass, who has had 35 Alice Springs starts and five Darwin starts, debuted for former Red Centre trainer Scott Westover in March 2020 and had three starts before switching to the Whittle stable in the spring of 2020.
Whittle, a champion Alice Springs trainer, celebrated Desert Lass’s first win in a 1400m maiden, with the mare winning a further five races, which included victory in open company over 2050m on Darwin Cup Day last year.
When Whittle relocated to South Australia in February, Desert Lass – with a record of 30-6-8-5 – ended up with Carrol Hunter and in 10 starts her competitiveness could not be questioned.
Whittle is back training in Central Australia, but the mare remains with Carrol Hunter.
From St Patrick’s Cup Day on March 19 until Alice Springs Cup Day on April 30, Desert Lass had five starts for two seconds and a third.
She may have been a $31 hope, but the mare stormed home to finish within a length of Write Your Name when second in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m).
Casey Hunter couldn’t hide her excitement when looking back at Desert Lass’ performance in Alice Springs’ biggest race.
“She went super in the Cup, that was a huge thrill as she was not really considered a chance,” she said.
“Even though she ran second it was massive for Carrol, myself and the owners.”
Another second behind Pioneer Sprint (1200m) winner Supreme Attraction, who won by 5.3 lengths, over 1400m (BM76) followed in June before the mare finally got the cash for her new trainer over 1400m (BM76) in July.
Desert Lass had the form on the board and Carrol Hunter had every reason to feel optimistic when she took the mare to Darwin, but unfortunately it didn’t go according to plan.
“The Darwin Cup – that was always her aim after her run in the Alice Springs Cup, which was huge,” Casey Hunter said.
“The Cup was probably a bit too strong in Darwin, but she once again proved that she’s handy in open company back in Alice.
“I’d say she’ll probably go for a spell after this run and then come back for a crack at the Alice Springs Cup next year.”
The Top End hoop is refreshed after a recent European holiday and will feature at the Darwin meeting on Saturday before flying to Alice Springs on Sunday.
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