After missing three meetings recently through suspension, it could be a big day for jockey Stan Tsaikos at Alice Springs on Saturday.
The Geelong-based rider, who has been riding in the NT for years, will partner Terry Gillett’s Valley Prince and Supreme Goal, as well as Lisa Whittle’s Omoplata.
Valley Prince, the early $1.50 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, is shooting for three straight wins when the seven-year-old gelding takes on 0-70 opposition over 1200m.
The son of Dissident, a last start winner two weeks ago over 1200m (0-64) by 4.8 lengths, takes on four other runners with Gillett’s Ornamental Lady and Hurn Court, along with Whittle’s Lunar Solar and Taorima Duchess hoping to spoil the party.
Supreme Goal, a six-year-old gelding by Supreme Class, was the $2.50 favourite over 1400m (0-64) after posting a last start win a fortnight ago against 0-58 grade after debuting over 1600m.
Dan Morgan’s Barocco Bar, Kerry Petrick’s The Girl’s Boy, Will Savage’s Fantasy Eagle, Paul Gardner’s Nasty Streak, Greg Connor’s Zelring and Ray Viney’s Quizzle will be tough in a very open race.
Omoplata ($2.40 fav) has been dynamite since returning to action having dispensed with the opposition over 1200m at 0-58 and BM54 level with nonchalant ease during September.
The son of More Than Ready, a six-year-old gelding, has worked his way to the front for both wins and no doubt similar tactics will be employed as he strives to topple Kevin Lamprecht’s Frankfurt, Petrick’s duo Kikuyu and Magic Defense, and Morgan’s Arrogant Miss over 1200m (BM54).
Tsaikos, the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership’s top jockey for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, rode Omoplata and Supreme Goal to their last start wins, but partnered Ornamental Lady ahead of Valley Prince on September 29.
The Victorian continues to pick up the wins in Alice Springs and Darwin on a regular basis, but he was suspended after riding Gillett’s Family Ties at Pioneer Park on September 8.
Getting to an early lead over 1000m, Family Ties ($3.20) was in great shape turning for home and was still in front as Tsaikos drove the five-year-old gelding to the line.
Presumably, Tsaikos must have thought he had sealed victory because he put the cue in the rack in the shadows of the post with the Savage-trained Talent Quest ($2.15 fav) swooping to win by a short half head.
Stewards charged Tsaikos with not riding his horse out to the end of the race and/or approaching the end of the race.
Tsaikos missed the Darwin meetings on September 14 and 21, as well as the Alice Springs meeting on September 15.
The break did Tsaikos no harm after his winning double in the Red Centre a fortnight ago.
Tsaikos, along with Darwin jockey Sonja Logan and fellow Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc, currently share the lead in the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership with four wins each.
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