Alice Springs trainer Will Savage has started the 2024/25 season in bright fashion by winning the biggest race in the Red Centre outside the Cup Carnival.
That’s after six year-old gelding Talent Quest claimed the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (1200m) at BM66 level at Pioneer Park on Sunday.
Talent Quest – a $6 hope with horse racing bookmakers – settled on the fence and shared the early lead with the Greg Connor-trained Delago Lad ($3.60) before getting the wobbles in the home straight.
With Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc in the saddle, Talent Quest lifted with 100m to go to overcome Delago Lad by 0.3 lengths with Savage’s fast-finishing Vanderland ($10) just 0.3 lengths adrift in third place.
Victorious at Pioneer Park last November after eight attempts, the former Victorian galloper returned from a spell on July 14 to win Heat 5 of the Winter Series over 1000m (BM54).
The son of Your Song also topped the Red Centre Winter Series pointscore, with Savage picking up an additional $2000.
In the other feature at Alice Springs, which was hosting its first meeting in six weeks, Connor’s Flying Start ($10) rocketed home under Georgie Catania over the concluding 300m to take out the $25,000 Cummins Cup (1100m).
At his best, Flying Start boasts exceptional acceleration, and after trailing the field by six lengths passing the 800m on Sunday, he finished with a wet sail to make it six wins from 20 starts for Connor.
SA jockey Georgie Catania, making her Pioneer Park debut, went wide once turning for home with Flying Start gobbling up Paul Gardner’s $1.85 favourite Red Wraith and Terry Gillett’s $8.50 pop Supreme Times to win by 1.3 lengths.
Gillett, Central Australia’s top trainer last season, ended the day with a winning double when Beau Factor ($5.50), toppled in-form stablemate Altar Boy ($1.80) by a length over 1200m (0-64) before Supreme Goal ($3.40), overcame Lisa Whittle’s Oneofthesenights ($2.10 fav) by 2.6 lengths in an 1100m maiden.
Whittle’s Another Val ($4.20) made it back-to-back wins after motoring home to seal victory over Gillett’s Floral Code ($3.10 fav) by three lengths over 1200m (Class 2).
On a remarkable day where all six favourites came second, Connor’s Quanapirri Bay ($4.20), was never far from the lead before saluting by 2.4 lengths over 1000m (0-58) from Gillett’s Little Ditty ($2.15 fav).
Meanwhile, Alice Springs apprentice Dakota Gillett won her first race in Queensland on Saturday aboard Le Weasel ($1.70 fav) at Mount Isa for local trainer Jay Morris.
Gillett, 18, who is accompanying Darwin trainer Phil Cole to the Birdsville Cup meetings (September 6-7), had four other rides at Mount Isa for a second and third.
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