Reigning champion Lisa Whittle and Greg Connor are the clubhouse leaders in the Alice Springs and Provincial trainer’s premiership race.
The Alice Springs Turf Club has hosted six meetings during the 2022/23 season with Whittle and Connor holding sway with eight wins each.
Both managed a double at Pioneer Park last Saturday, with Harbour Express and Liberty Blue saluting for Whittle and Intercontinental and Bold Tropic prevailing for Connor.
No denying the fact that the Whittle and Connor stables have depth, and should continue to make an impact in Central Australia for the rest of the season.
Fellow trainer Will Savage, who currently has 11 horses in his stable, hopes to give Whittle, Connor and other Alice Springs trainers a run for their money during Sunday’s meeting.
Savage has posted three wins this season with Speed Wheel delivering on August 6 in a 1200m maiden, Fantasy Eagle prevailing on August 20 over 1400m (0-70) and Mi Mijo saluting on August 26 in a 1400m maiden.
All three horses are racing this weekend, along with stablemates Elixir, Saiken and Mackinaw, and it would not surprise if the green with the yellow sash – the silks that represent the Savage stable – takes centre stage on the five-event program.
Savage, the original trainer of former NT star galloper Savatoxl, has only had 15 starters since the first Alice Springs meeting of the season on August 6, and apart from the three wins his strike rate isn’t too bad with his team finishing either second or third six times.
To end the day with five winners are what dreams are made of, but in all seriousness the Savage stable should prove competitive in most races.
“Yeah, I reckon they’re all around the money, so hopefully I can get one or two wins out of them,” Savage said.
“Lisa and Greg are dominating – it would be good to upset the apple cart for a change.
“I mean they are flying, both those stables, and are doing really well.
“It would be nice to get a couple on them, though.”
Savage rates Fantasy Eagle (Ianish Luximon) is his best chance with the six-year-old gelding lining up in the final race – the $23,100 Gallagher Insurance Handicap (1600m) – which is also the feature.
Fantasy Eagle, who did most of his racing in NSW, has had five NT starts for a win, two seconds, a fourth and a last start fifth on August 26 – and his record over 1600m is 3-0-0-1.
“I’d say he’s probably the best chance, he’s just a pretty honest horse,” Savage said.
“We had a little bit of an issue in his last start with the tongue tie.
“We’ve changed the gear now and I think he’ll be a bit better than his last run.
“In his starts prior to that he showed a number of encouraging runs, so I think he’s going places.”
Apart from one run in Sydney and two runs in Queensland, the Zacinto gelding had four wins in 20 starts for Wyong trainer Allan Denham.
Three seconds and five thirds, as well as three top five finishes, for Denham suggests Savage, who is more than satisfied with his purchase, might have a decent horse on his hands.
Luximon, an apprentice, who rode Fantasy Eagle to victory in August, has the luxury of claiming 3kg.
“I think he’s a little bit better than average for here,” he said.
“He’s had a little bit of form that was just out of city class that I thought was good enough for the bush.”
Mi Mijo (Sonja Wiseman), a four-year-old gelding, starts in the opening race over 1200m (0-58) and is a big chance after a first, third and second in his past three starts.
“Yeah, he keeps stepping up to the plate,” Savage said.
“He’s getting a bit stronger and little bit more sensible in the head each run.
“He’s an improving horse all the time.”
Speed Wheel (Wiseman), who has finished in the top three four times in five Alice Springs starts, will race over 1100m (Class 2) and the four-year-old mare is in the mix.
“She’s a pretty honest little mare – I think she will be around the money again,” Savage said.
Elixir (Luximon) debuted in the Red Centre in April and didn’t offer much in six starts, but on September 11 he seemingly released the shackles and was denied victory by a nose over 1200m (BM76).
The seven-year-old gelding gets his chance to atone over 1100m (0-70) on Sunday and his trainer is hopeful, especially with a 3kg claim.
“It was a great run last start – we changed a bit of gear on him too,” Savage said.
“He’s taken a while to climatise here, and he’s turned the tables now.
“I think he might be right.
“If he can repeat what he did the other day he’ll be hard to beat.”
Saiken (Casey Hunter), a four-year-old gelding who saluted at Tennant Creek in May, will feature in the same race as Speed Wheel.
Mackinaw (Wiseman), a five-year-old gelding, won three starts ago in Tamworth before battling in his first two Alice Springs starts and will have to lift over 1100m (BM54).
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