Alice Springs apprentice Ianish Luximon rode a winning double and also achieved a significant milestone at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
The 25-year-old chalked up 50 wins on Kevin Lamprecht’s Sweet As Scandi (+400) before making it 51 wins aboard Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle (+250).
Luximon, who hails from Mauritius, is in fact aligned to the Lamprecht stable.
Having arrived in the NT via Malaysia, Singapore, and Tasmania, Luximon had his first ride in the Red Centre in November 2021.
It was in December 2019 when Luximon made his Tasmanian debut, where he had 412 rides for 18 wins.
He also represented the Apple Isle during the 2020 National Apprentice Racing Series (NARS) and celebrated a win at Hobart.
Luximon then relocated to Central Australia when approached by Thoroughbred Racing NT chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole.
He has had his ups and downs, but to his credit, Luximon has represented the NT in the NARS and partnered Savage’s outstanding galloper Savatoxl when it won in April in his first Alice Springs appearance in three years.
It was April 22 – Day 3 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival – when Luximon rode Savatoxl, and to cap off a big day he secured his first winning treble after also piloting Lamprecht’s Rupert’s Delight and Kym Healy’s Equal Balance.
Sweet As Scandi, a six-year-old mare, made it two wins and two seconds from four starts when she outclassed her rivals over 1200m (0-58) after sharing the early lead with stablemate Lisa and Lisa Whittle’s Nicotera.
Sandwiched between the pair, Sweet As Scandi hit the front at the 700m exiting the back straight, and was never headed.
With 350m remaining once turning for home, the daughter of Magnus was in good shape before winning by a length from Greg Connor’s Radio Room (+750) and Nicotera (+2000).
After two thirds and two fourths, Fantasy Eagle tasted success for the first time since April with a tremendous performance against open company in the $24,500 feature over 1600m.
Settling behind the leaders, fifth-placed Fantasy Eagle made his move once leaving the back straight, when sixth-placed Zelring – sitting at the tail of the field – made a sweeping move in a bid to pick up the pace.
Fantasy Eagle was four wide and Zelring was five wide, so with 600m to go, anything was possible.
Quick Return (+160 fav) led narrowly from Chopsticks, Fantasy Eagle, and Zelring turning for home before Luximon’s mount, a seven-year-old gelding by Zacinto, sprinted clear at the 200m to seal victory by 1.6 lengths from Paul Gardner’s Quick Return and Connor’s luckless Zelring ($3).
Fantasy Eagle was a close second in the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) on April 22, a win would have made it four wins for the day for Luximon.
Mighty Murt (-142.86 fav), who has made a serious impression in Alice Springs and Darwin, has found his spark once again after making it back to back wins with victory over 1100m (0-70).
Whittle’s six-year-old grey gelding sat three wide after sharing the early lead in the five-horse field before hitting the front at the 500m.
Mighty Murt (Paul Denton) showed no signs of weakening in the home straight, and although Connor’s Intercontinental (+650) made a move out wide and Ray Viney’s Tango Stepz (+340) rallied along the rails, the son of Murtajill prevailed by 1.3 lengths.
Dan Morgan’s +135 favourite Boy Big (Emma Lines), was certainly impressive en route to his third win from four starts when he covered plenty of ground before sealing victory over 1100m (BM54).
At one stage, the six-year-old gelding by Vancouver was sitting four wide after sharing the early lead and was then camped three deep turning for home before kicking clear at the 200m to hold off Gardner’s Perkova (+550), who was never far away, and Lamprecht’s fast-finishing Rhythmical (+1800) by just over a length.
Gardner made it seven wins for the season and maintained his lead in the trainers’ premiership when +320 prospect Red Wraith (Adam Nicholls) upset Connor’s Flying Yishu (-166.67 fav) for his first NT win.
Following a debut seventh over 1200m (0-58) on September 10, the four-year-old gelding by Charm Spirit was scratched at the barrier a fortnight later after injuring his tongue following a mishap in the mounting yard.
The form guide suggested Flying Yishu would make it three wins from four Alice starts, but Red Wraith, who attracted plenty of support from punters and was cantankerous in the barriers, was too good.
Sharing the early lead, Red Wraith skipped away at the 500m and although Flying Yishu was making ground along the fence before looking for a gap up the middle of the track once turning for home the race was already over.
Red Wraith won with ease by 3.5 lengths from the odds-on pop with Gardner’s Shepliments defying her +2000 quote with online betting sites by running on strongly for third.
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