He’s had big days in the past where he has dominated the program, but Monday’s meeting at Alice Springs is something trainer Dick Leech won’t easily forget.
Leech, one of the more colourful NT racing figures, celebrated Day 2 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival with five winners on the seven-event card.
The meeting was rescheduled from Saturday, when the ASTC had to postpone proceedings after rain from Cyclone Isla saturated Pioneer Park.
What made Leech’s achievement even more remarkable is that he won the three features – the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m), $30,000 The Soldier Lightning Handicap (1000m) and $26,300 Open Handicap (1900m).
The latter two races are basically preludes leading up to the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) and $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) on April 30.
Century Fox ($12), with a withering burst along to the fence in the closing 200m, sealed victory in the Guineas in his debut NT appearance thanks to a superb ride from Darwin-based jockey Jarrod Todd.
Patrick Johnston’s in-form $1.40 favourite Ankle Rolex (Jade Hampson) could only finish fourth behind the second-placed Daniher (Ianish Luximon) and third-placed Perisseuo (Paul Denton).
2023 NT Guineas – Century Fox (1st)
Early Crow ($1.80 fav) made it three wins from his past four starts after finishing strongly out wide in the home straight to win the Lightning, with the seemingly forgotten Stan Tsaikos – the champion jockey in the Alice Springs premiership for the past two seasons – in the saddle.
It’s hard to fault Early Crow’s ability, but his prospects were enhanced after in-form sprinter Expert Witness from the Tayarn Halter stable reared just before the gates were released and thus was a non-participant.
The Soldier Lightning Handicap – Early Crow (1st)
And then Write Your Name ($4.20), legless in four starts at the beginning of the year before hitting a purple patch, made it three wins in a row when he stepped up to 1900m for the first time to win by just under four lengths after apprentice jockey Hampson was forced three wide for a majority of the trip.
Although stronger competition awaits in the Cup and Sprint, Write Your Name, a seven-year-old gelding, and Early Crow, a four-year-old gelding, are primed for the features, while Century Fox is apparently off to the Cup as well.
Alice Springs R4 replay – Write Your Name (1st)
Leech’s Kerioth ($2.90), with Todd as the pilot, is bound for the Sprint too after leading all the way en route to victory over 1400m (BM76) on Monday – the five-year-old grey gelding bouncing back to form after winning two of his first four NT starts.
What would prove to be a sensational day for Leech started in the first when Hampson guided Envenomate ($11) to a convincing win over 1200m (0-66) after trailing the field.
“It was a good day, but three of them were well supported in the market,” Leech said.
“The grey, Kerioth, I said to my foreman Lorraine Edwards that he needed 1400m – he had to win today to get into the Sprint.
“Write Your Name, I didn’t know about the distance.
“I said to Jade to look after him and he basically travelled three wide the whole way.
“Anyway, I think she was in the better part of the track.
“With Century Fox, I drove 1400km the other night to pick him up from Coober Pedy.
“I bought him, he was supposed to start in Canberra last Friday.
“Brad Cooper from Darwin Horse Floats dropped him off at Coober Pedy for me.
“I got off a plane from Darwin and jumped into the horse truck here and drove down and picked him up and another three-year-old that I bought.
“Got back here at 4am – that was three days ago.
“He did look good today, but have a look at his form, he won his last start over 1400m at Albury.
“He just burst through today and won going away – I was told that you won’t see the best of this horse until he gets to 2000m.”
Leech had only praise for Hampson, who also rode Kym Healy’s Real Valentia to victory on Monday, and Todd.
“Yeah, they’re both going good,” he said.
“Jade’s a good little rider – she’s got good hands, that kid – and she’ll go a fair way.
“Toddy’s one of the best at what he does – one of the top riders in the Territory.”
Todd, who also rode three winners in Darwin on Friday, is bridging the gap on the high-flying Sonja Wiseman in the Darwin and Alice Springs jockey premierships.
Wiseman (27) leads Todd (23) in the Top End premiership, with Wiseman (26) leading Todd (19) in the Alice Springs premiership.
Todd has won the Top End premiership for the past three years.
Leech has proven unstoppable in recent months and now holds a nine-win advantage in the Alice Springs trainers’ premiership with 24 winners.
With three days of the Cup Carnival remaining, he now has seven winners as he strives for further success on Saturday – Tradies Day – where the feature is the $40,000 Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at weight-for-age.
“Lunch Session will have a go at the Chief Minister’s Cup, as well as Lethal Encounter – he’s a really nice little horse.
“We’ll put Lethal Encounter out to the mile and then hopefully go to the Cup.
“We’ve had a good team of horses here this year.
“Instead of cheapies, we’ve branched out and bought a bit better – better stock.
“Anyway, it’s paying off.”
Finally, Leech had special praise for the ASTC when it came to Pioneer Park’s dirt surface.
“The track is racing really good here, it’s a beautiful surface at the moment,” he said.
“Actually, the club probably needs a pat on the back.
“It’s the best I’ve ever seen the track here.
“Winners are coming from anywhere, which is good.”
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