He has been part of the NT racing fabric for many years, but Alice Springs trainer Kevin Lamprecht has never won a three-year-old feature during the Darwin Cup Carnival.
Lamprecht has another opportunity on Saturday when three-year-old geldings Iknowhatyouredoing (Mark Pegus) and Daniher (Ianish Luximon) line up in the $75,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m) at Fannie Bay.
The Guineas kicks off Carnival – it’s the first of eight meetings with Cup Day scheduled for August 7.
The Dick Leech, Kerry Petrick and Jason Manning stables have the class to win the race, but Lamprecht and fellow trainers aren’t out of it as three-year-olds have limited 1600m experience.
Last year, the Gary Clarke stable dominated the Carnival winning five of the eight features with Wolfburn posting an upset Guineas win by 3.8 lengths at $17.
Subsequently, Nicole Irwin’s Club Punter, Aaron Bain’s Sir Toop and Barry Cooke’s Taviosa, who will be making their NT debuts, as well as Phil Cole’s Tubthumper and Clarke’s Field Commander must be respected.
Leech’s Century Fox was the $3.90 betting site favourite on Thursday, which is no surprise after winning the NT Guineas (1600m) at $12 and finishing fifth in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) at $26 before a first up Darwin win two weeks ago.
The son of Eurozone, formerly trained by Michael Travers in Wagga Wagga, took on fellow three-year-olds over 1300m (BM66) and produced a withering burst in the home straight to seal victory by two lengths at $7.50 from Manning’s Arch Of Titus and Iknowhatyouredoing.
Iknowhatyouredoing motored home in an outstanding Darwin Guineas trial.
Petrick has Anphina, who impressed in Adelaide earlier this year, and Perisseuo, who produced an eye-catching fourth behind Century Fox on June 24.
Apart from Arch Of Titus, who hails from NSW, Manning’s other runner in the Guineas is Chef De Mission, from SA, who was ninth in that 1300m race for the three-year-olds in late June.
Iknowhatyouredoing, from SA, and Daniher, from Victoria, were purchased by Lamprecht and wife Robyn, as well as fellow part-owner Greg Aldam, with the Darwin three-year-old features in mind.
“Hopefully they go alright on Saturday,” Lamprecht said.
“They’ve both raced well since coming to Darwin and had the prep that I was looking for.
“They’re ready for the 1600m, hopefully they will get a good ride.
“I can’t split the two ability wise, I suppose we’ll find out on Saturday.
“See how they go this weekend and then we’ll find out which way we go in regards to the Derby.
“I’ve ran a place in the Guineas and Derby, but haven’t won either.”
Iknowhatyouredoing had five starts for Adelaide trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly and won a 1600m Morphettville maiden before coming second over 1600m (BM60) against his own age group at the same venue and was sixth in the Launceston Guineas (2100m).
In his only other start for Lamprecht, the son of Husson was second behind Doc O’Connor over 1100m (BM57) for the three-year-olds on May 27.
Daniher had five starts for Mornington trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman with his best effort a third in a 1590m Wangaratta maiden in his final Victorian start.
The son of Fighting Sun won on debut in the Red Centre in a 1200m maiden on April 1 before finishing 1.3 lengths adrift in second place behind Century Fox in the NT Guineas.
Arriving in the Top End, Daniher won first up on June 10 over 1200m (BM64) against his own age group.
Lamprecht, who has had success in the NT Guineas previously, agrees that Century Fox is the one to beat on Saturday.
“Yeah, Century Fox is going OK,” he said.
Speaking of Century Fox, the fact that he will be partnered by long-time Darwin jockey Paul Shiers is a bonus.
Shiers has won the Darwin Guineas nine times – he finished second on Rising Fire last year – and the NT Derby (2050m) on seven occasions, with Rising Fire coming third last July.
Lamprecht has had a very successful training career with the likes of Heaven Dancer, Kappa, Spakatak, Hillbilly Rich and Picayune starring on the big stage in Alice Springs and Darwin in the past.
Along with Iknowhatyouredoing and Daniher, stablemates Ginger Creek, Arriba, Travanti, Rupert’s Delight and Sweet As Scandi are also in Darwin and if they haven’t raced already they will definitely start for Lamprecht during Carnival.
“We’ve got no Palmerston Sprint or Darwin Cup horses,” Lamprecht said.
“The others are all just good lower class horses, they go alright.
“We’ll just find the right race that suits them, nothing serious.
“I still enjoy training – I’d be no good playing bowls, so I’ve got to do something.
“I still enjoy coming to Darwin as well, it’s all good.
“They’ve got a lot of horses up here at the moment.
“It’s probably one of the best years as far as numbers go.”
More horse racing news
