Trainer Kerry Petrick had a day out in Alice Springs on Saturday, winning three of the seven events and dead-heating for first in one other race.
Petrick’s Venting ($2.20 fav) registered his third win from his past four starts by rolling 0-70 opposition over 1600m.
With Paul Denton aboard, Venting (61kg) – the son of Star Witness – trailed the trio who led the five-horse field into the home straight before finding an inside passage to sink stablemate Boom Boom Sweet ($8) and Ray Viney’s Quizzle ($4.60).
Venting beat the same pairing home a fortnight ago after finishing third behind Quizzle over 1400m (0-70) in late January.
Phillip Crich, along with Denton, is also one of the NT’s more senior riders, but he showed his prowess by guiding Petrick’s other runners to success.
Kikuyu ($6.50), a five-year-old gelding by Crowded House, ended a long drought when he skipped clear at the 800m after drawing a wide gate before downing Terry Gillett’s Tintern Power ($4.20) and Petrick’s Real Divine ($5) by 3.6 lengths over 1200m (0-58).
Flash Fiorente ($14), Petrick’s four-year-old gelding by Fiorente, and Paul Gardner’s Hello Carol ($3.70), a five-year-old mare by Kaphero, shared the lead in an 1100m maiden before they had Gillett’s Macer’s Razor ($3.70) for company passing the 500m.
Once dispensing with Macer’s Razor, who would finish third, at the 100m, Flash Fiorente (59kg) and Hello Carol (55kg), ridden by apprentice Dylan Stanley, went toe for toe before sharing the spoils.
Petrick’s six-year-old gelding Zoutellus, the son of Zoustar, settled out in front before toppling Viney’s Strike Eagle ($4) and Kevin Lamprecht’s Daniher ($4.80) by 3.4 lengths for his first NT win over 1400m (0-64).
Dick Leech celebrated when Kerioth overcame quality opposition in a 1200m open handicap.
Kerioth ($5.50) produced an impressive Pioneer Sprint trial when he jumped from gate six in the seven-horse field and hit the front passing the 800m, before outclassing Gillett’s Supreme Times ($26) and Leech’s Early Crow ($5.50), fresh from his Palmerston Sprint triumph last August, by 3.2 lengths.
A six-year-old grey gelding, Kerioth (54kg) was ridden a treat by Darwin apprentice Jade Hampson, but the son of Zebedee was almost scratched when he initially refused to enter the barrier.
Lamprecht’s Beyond Ready ($3.70), a handy commodity from Victoria, surprised Dan Morgan’s in-form Don’t Be Dramatic after pipping the $1.40 favourite by a neck in the three-year-old event over 1200m (BM56).
Don’t Be Dramatic (60.5kg) shared the early lead before fourth-placed Beyond Ready (58.5kg), a gelding by More Than Ready, hit top gear at the 400m approaching the final bend with apprentice Ianish Luximon hard at work.
Beyond Ready swooped in the home straight, but at the 300m he veered to the inside, flattening Gardner’s Hey Bull ($21), who finished third, and although it was dismissed, it was no surprise to see rider Sonja Logan lodge a protest.
Greg Connor’s Vitesse Breeze ($4.80) made it three wins from four consecutive 1200m starts when he put Petrick’s The Girl’s Party ($6.50) and Mark Pegus’ Nicstar ($6) to the sword by three lengths at 0-58 level.
Vitesse Breeze, a six-year-old gelding by Bullet Train, missed the start before hitting the front at the 700m and from that point on, it was smooth sailing for winning jockey Denton.
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