It’s been 30 years since Top End trainer Tayarn Halter won the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) with The Universe.
The $135,000 Palmerston and the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) are the Darwin Cup Carnival’s two big races, but there is also a healthy respect for the NT Derby (2050m).
Halter has a runner in the $135,000 three-year-old event for only the second time, with Super Defense lining up at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Mazzaro was Halter’s other Derby runner in 2018 – he finished 12th after coming ninth in the Darwin Guineas (1600m).
Super Defense is a decent Derby hope after finishing second behind Kym Healy’s He’s Maverick over 1300m (BM66) in June and in the $75,000 Guineas a fortnight ago.
Apprentice Jade Hampson couldn’t have done much more to get Super Defense over the line on each occasion.
The gelding had four starts for Rosehill trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, which included victory in a 1610m Orange maiden in February.
“I was trolling through the online auctions and noticed that Gerald was selling him,” Halter said.
“I had a look at his form, he’s a nice young miler, so I put a bid in and was successful.
“He’d already had four weeks in the paddock when I bought him.
“I let him get over the trip to Darwin, then put him into work.
“He’s honest, he handles the dirt and doesn’t mind the kick-back.
“I’ve been lucky in both of his runs, he’s drawn the fence and he’s had a nice position.
“It’s a tough race, a very good Derby field, and we’ve drawn 10 – we come into seven if the emergencies don’t start.
“He’s got to be in there with a chance, so hopefully we can pull it off.”
Halter, who has a racing background that stretches back to the 1980s, actually won the Palmerston Sprint a year after acquiring her trainer’s license.
A former jockey, Halter, would love to win another big race during Carnival.
“The Palmerston is the biggest race I’ve won – fifth is as close as I got in the Darwin Cup,” she said.
“You always need an element of luck in big races, it plays a big part.
“There’s always hard luck stories in those races because they’re difficult to win.
“Even He’s Maverick got checked early in the Guineas.
“Super Defense looked a chance in the Guineas, but Kym’s horse finished over the top of him.
“Hopefully, we can turn the tables in the Derby, but there are also plenty of other good horses in the race.”
Sheila Arnold’s Gifted Gamer, third in the $500,000 Platinum Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in April for Melbourne trainer Patrick Payne, was the $3.40 favourite with online bookmakers on Thursday despite not having a start at Fannie Bay.
Having hit the line strongly in the Guineas, He’s Maverick ($5), Super Defense ($10) and Phil Cole’s third-placed Rhesus ($5.50) are expected to make an impact this weekend.
With the Chief Minister’s Cup and Toyota Finance Cup in his pocket, Victorian trainer Neil Dyer will start Unquestionably ($5.50) in the Derby.
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