It was October 2019 when the Mark Nyhan-trained nine-year-old gelding Halogem last won in the NT.
That was in Alice Springs when the son of Sebring, who has had 52 career starts, prevailed over 1400m (0-64) when Nyhan, from New Zealand, was based in the Red Centre.
Halogem posted his first-ever win in a three-year-old maiden over 1100m on debut at Pioneer Park in late April 2017, and over the next two years he had three wins in Darwin and Alice Springs.
Those wins in the Top End were achieved during the 2017 and 2018 Darwin Cup Carnivals.
Kicking off his career in April 2016, Halogem had five starts in Victoria for trainer Danny O’Brien before finishing second in his only NSW start for trainer Graham Payne in an 1100m maiden at Narromine in early April 2017.
Halogem had 30 starts for Nyhan, but after relocating to Darwin following the 2021 Alice Springs Cup Carnival the gelding remained with Red Centre trainer Jess Gleeson, where he proved competitive in 12 starts over a nine-month period.
Nyhan then ended up with the horse and, after a six-month spell, Halogem returned in December for two seconds over 1300m (BM54) and 1600m (0-64) before a fourth over 1300m (0-64) in January and a fifth behind Siakam over 1300m (BM76) on Saturday.
Halogem, who has a propensity to tail off at the start of a race before relying on a big finish, is back in action at Fannie Bay on Friday over 1600m (0-64) and Nyhan fancies his chances.
“At the 600m on Saturday, he spotted them eight lengths and he’s run them down – he was 3.2 lengths from the winner,” Nyhan said.
“He was only a head away from second two starts ago – a stride or two past the post he passed the second and third horse.
“The 1300m, he has trouble making up ground – that’s just his pattern to get right out of it.
“He’s got to be left alone early, if you try to make him race handy he’s never been any good and that’s why his form is patchy.
“Everyone has to remember that he can start in a 0-58 grade race, but there’s been no races over 1300m in the low grades and that’s why he’s taken on the open-grade horses.
“I’ve been pleased with every run this prep and with his sectionals – the last two runs have been super.
“He hasn’t disappointed me or the riders in anyway, so I think he will be very close to winning on Friday.”
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Nyhan will pit stablemate Jet Jackson (Sonja Wiseman), a seven-year-old gelding who rarely runs a bad race, against Halogem (Wayne Davis) on Friday.
Along with Halogem, Jet Jackson will appreciate the 1600m and was a respectable third behind Mr Cashman over 1300m in open company on Australia Day.
“He was pretty good last start, raced out of his skin,” Nyhan said.
“He’s just been waiting for these races to come along, he’s more suited to the mile.
“Both are big chances, but he’s got 60.5kg and he might be up against it – he might find it a bridge too far to beat Halogem (56kg).
“Jet Jackson is a good honest horse – always gives it a bit of a go.
“He’s record speaks for itself – he’s been ultra-consistent ever since we bought him.
“He’ll be heading to Alice Springs and all going well he might be a rough chance of running in the Alice Springs Cup (April 30).”
Nyhan, with seven wins this season, has two other runners on Friday who will also square off in the same race.
Halogem and Jet Jackson will step out in the fifth and final race, while Rojo Boom (Wiseman) and Against The Tide (Ianish Luximon) will contest the first race over 1300m (0-58).
Rojo Boom is above average despite posting just one win from 17 starts for Nyhan and caught the eye on Australia Day when third behind Malibu Edition and Constant Cause over 1600m (Class 2).
Against The Tide had two wins from 23 starts for former Darwin trainer Emma Steel before producing three poor efforts for Nyhan in recent times.
“Rojo Boom’s had some handy races – he’s always thereabouts, but he doesn’t like it when it rains,” Nyhan said.
“He doesn’t mind the kick-back, but he doesn’t like the rain spraying on his face.
“A couple of starts back when he ran fourth – Jarrod (Todd) said he just didn’t like the rain which probably cost him running closer.
“It was a big run last start, he just got tightened up going into the back, he got spat out, he had to settle last.
“Had he been able to settle a bit handier I think it might have been a different result.
“Against The Tide, he’s just had his share of problems and it’s taken a wee while for things to come right – but he ran a lot better race on Saturday.
“He’s getting up in distance and we might see a bit more from him.”
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