Alice Springs trainer Dan Morgan has a live NT Guineas contender on his hands after Don’t Be Dramatic’s slashing win at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
The three-year-old gelding ($2.70) jumped from the inside gate against his own age group over 1400m (BM68) and held sway out in front before saluting by three lengths.
The son of Super One posted his first win after eventually making his Red Centre debut over 1000m (BM54) on January 14.
In his next three appearances against the three-year-olds as an odds-on favourite, Don’t Be Dramatic was a narrow second over 1000m and a big winner over 1100m before another close second over 1200m.
The NT debutante was scratched from a 1000m maiden on January 6.
Thunder from a near-by storm spooked Don’t Be Dramatic, and he bolted on jockey Casey Hunter before being restrained.
After Saturday, he should start as the favourite in the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m) on March 23.
Morgan, who also holds a jockey’s licence, rode Don’t Be Dramatic in his first two starts, but since then Paul Denton has been the pilot.
Debating ($4.20) and Beyond Ready ($2.70) gave the winner too much start on Saturday before filling the minor placings.
Morgan, 30, landed a double when Garrucha ($4.20), formerly trained by Russell Bell, led throughout before overcoming Lamoree ($3.60) and Arrogant Miss ($5.50) over 1100m (0-58).
It was Garrucha’s first success since posting back to back Kununurra wins last year, while for winning jockey Anthony Darmanin he was making his Alice Springs debut.
Melbourne-based Darmanin, who rides regularly in Tasmania, capped off a big day by winning aboard Dick Leech’s Century Fox ($2.05) in open class (1600m).
Century Fox, last year’s NT Guineas winner, was having his third start following a spell before swooping late to down Boom Boom Sweet ($4) by half a length – Desert Lass ($3.60) was third.
Leech secured two wins when Kerioth (Dylan Stanley) finished strongly to make it back to back wins over 1100m (BM76) from Red Wraith ($2.80), who led most of the way, with Throw At Da Stumps ($4.40) a distant third.
Kerioth ($4.20) was firing a year ago before he unfortunately missed the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m), but it’s unlikely he’ll be denied a start in 2024.
In a repeat of his win on January 27, Ray Viney’s Quizzle ($6.50) was tailed off last before hitting top gear at the 600m and sealing victory by 3.3 lengths from Princess Pancakes ($41) and Moracoli ($13).
Since arriving in town last year, Quizzle’s record stands at 17: 5-4-5 with Jessie Philpot, the winning jockey on Saturday, partnering the horse 16 times.
Kerry Petrick’s Kikuyu ($2.20) made it back to back wins when he rounded up the leaders in the home straight to seal victory from Vanderland ($8.50) and Madam Mischief ($5) over 1000m (0-64).
Stan Tsaikos, Kikuyu’s jockey, also had success aboard Terry Gillett’s Macer’s Razor ($5) in a 1200m maiden after catching the leaders at the 300m before rolling He’s Maverick ($4.60) and Another Val ($21).
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