After nine seconds this season, Top End trainer Chris Nash hopes to add to his tally of three wins on Saturday.
The former Palmerston Sprint winning trainer has four decent hopes as the Darwin Turf Club prepares for its final meeting of the year at Fannie Bay.
Son Of Bielski and Seven Secrets front over 1600m at 0-70 level, the consistent Mr Have A Chat features in open class over 1100m, and Valaroc meets 0-58 opposition over 1000m.
“I’ve had 23 runners this season, I’d much rather the seconds be winners,” Nash said.
“The horses are going well, they’re just coming up one short.”
Son Of Bielski had won six races in a row last year, but the eight-year-old gelding hasn’t saluted since June – he was fifth in the Darwin Cup (2050m) in August.
He missed the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) in April with a foot abscess, and although not running a place in his past seven starts, Nash is happy with the former SA galloper.
“Last year, he turned up as a 60 rater and worked his way through to open company,” he said.
“He’s been running in open sprints of late.
“Back in grade and out to a mile, he’s been hanging out for a race like this.”
Seven Secrets, also from SA, debuted in October for a second over 1000m before saluting over 1300m in November and finishing second over 1200m earlier this month.
That win by Seven Secrets made it 50 Darwin wins for Nash.
Nash rates the five-year-old gelding, who steps up to 1600m for the first time.
“Son Of Bielski is probably the better horse, but Seven Secrets is more genuine as he jumps and puts himself on the speed,” he said.
Mr Have A Chat has had 11 Darwin starts since February for three wins, five seconds and a third – he also finished second on Katherine Cup Day in August.
Pinging the gates last start over 1100m at 0-76 level in November, the seven-year-old gelding led handsomely before Dick Leech’s Kerioth powered home in the closing stages.
“That’s his racing pattern, you can’t begrudge that and I’m not disappointed as he tried hard,” Nash said.
Valaroc, a six-year-old gelding from SA, was an eye-catching third on his NT debut three weeks ago over 1000m after striking trouble in the back and home straight.
“He went into that race underdone, he missed a bit of work,” Nash said.
“It’s a similar field on Saturday and he’s got the blinkers on, so he’d only have to improve half a length or a length to give that race a nudge.
“He’s drawn a stickier gate (eight), but if he can navigate that he’ll be hard to beat.”
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