They were the leading trainer and jockey at Birdsville last year, and now Kym Healy and apprentice Emma Lines are dominating the Alice Springs Cup Carnival.
With three days down and two to go, Strathalbyn’s Healy (7) and Darwin’s Lines (5) lead the way from Dan Morgan (3) and Sonja Logan (3), respectively.
Apart from sealing the 1200m weight-for-age at Pioneer Park with Noble Magnate on Saturday, Healy and Lines also had success when four-year-old mare Lotto Fight ($3.30 fav) streeted her rivals by 4.8 lengths over 1400m (0-58) for her third career win.
The daughter of War, a narrow second on her NT debut a fortnight ago, led after 1200m before extending her lead turning for home to sink Lisa Whittle’s Prophesier ($6.50) and Mark Pegus’ Nicstar ($21).
Logan, Central Australia’s top jockey last season, had wins aboard Canny Impact ($15) over 1600m (0-64) for husband Tom Logan and Lisa Whittle’s Freedom Day ($7.50) over 1100m (0-58).
Canny Impact boasted respectable Queensland form, but finished fifth in Darwin (1200m) in February and eighth in Alice Springs (1600m) on March 9.
The five-year-old gelding by Real Impact hit the front on Saturday when they jumped and skipped away at the 600m before decimating Kerry Petrick’s Princess Pancakes ($26) and Tayarn Halter’s I’m A Dreamer ($61) by 5.6 lengths.
Canny Impact will likely miss next Sunday’s Alice Springs Cup (2000m), with the 2000m (BM76) on Cup Day an inevitable prospect.
Having not raced since November, Freedom Day ($7.50), a five-year-old mare by Free Eagle, settled second before hitting the front in the home straight to sink Greg Connor’s stablemates Bold Tropic ($7) and Quanapirri Bay ($9) by 1.3 lengths.
Ray Viney’s $2.80 favourite Square Cut (Jessie Philpot) was almost scratched when he refused to enter the barrier before maintaining his excellent Alice Springs record with victory over 1000m (0-70).
A five-year-old gelding by Kuroshio, Square Cut (11:4-5-2) was among a host of winners on Saturday that pinged the gates to establish a decent lead.
Whittle’s Liberty Blue ($6) – second behind Red Wraith in The Soldier Lightning (1000m) on Wednesday – and Healy’s Real Valentia – third behind Noble Magnate midweek – filled the minor placings.
Local Lek Maloney celebrated his second Carnival win when Morgan’s Barocco Bar ($8) left it late over 1400m (0-58).
Barocco Bar, a four-year-old gelding by Epaulette, was never far away after sitting four deep in search of the early lead before unwinding over the final 100m to pip Leanne Gillett’s gallant Typically Brazen ($11) by a nose with Healy’s Galaxy Falls ($31) third.
The three-year-old event over 1100m (BM66) accommodated three runners, with Petrick’s $13 outsider Prancingintherain (Paul Denton), a gelding by Sir Prancealot, leading throughout on its NT debut to sink Will Savage’s Only The Best ($1.55 fav) and Angela Forster’s Angelique ($2.50).
Denton (15) leads the way in the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership from Logan (14.5).
Paul Gardner (18) leads the trainers’ premiership from Petrick (14.5).
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