Having claimed a fifth straight Top End jockeys’ premiership, Jarrod Todd is eyeing a big finish to the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival.
That’s after he cleaned up last Saturday with four wins, which included victory on Gary Clarke’s Masatora in the $135,000 NT Derby (2050m).
Masatora, who arrived from Ciaron Maher’s Cranbourne stable, was a first-up seventh at Fannie Bay in the Darwin Guineas (1600m).
After partnering Clarke’s Style And Grace and Captain George to success, Todd also got Hadouken home in the $50,000 Buntine Handicap (2050m) for Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl.
“To get a winner or two is awesome, but to get four is even better, it was a great day,” Todd said.
“You’re only as good as the cattle you’re on, but when you’re on a Clarke horse you’re always a chance.
“Masatora came up here with the Derby as his main target, they said he was a real stayer.
“I said to Gary after the Guineas that if he ran two or three lengths closer you’d be pretty happy, but first start on the track I thought he went really good.
“I was pretty confident going into the Derby after his Guineas run, he was always going to improve.
“Talented three-year-olds can run up to the mile, but past that some can struggle.
“Just rapt to get the job done, I was surprised that he paid $21.”
The victory meant Masatora qualified for the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 5.
The gelding pulled up well and has been nominated for the Cup, with Clarke suggesting that he will start before returning to Victoria, where a jumping career awaits.
Speaking of the Cup, Clarke has also nominated Wolfburn (third in 2023), Playoffs (2022 winner), Pink Panther and Tanaawol, but Todd has yet to settle on a ride.
“It’s a nice spot to be in when you’ve got some nice options,” Todd said.
“I’m riding Wolfburn this weekend in the Metric Mile, he’s been ultra consistent.”
Hadouken is a serious threat in the Darwin Cup, according to Todd, with Robl hoping that he may ride the horse, but that seems unlikely.
Meanwhile, Todd is undecided whether to ride Spaceship, Flying Annie, Rising Sphere, Lumber Punk or Seguso in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on August 3.
“You wouldn’t mind putting your backside on either of them, they’re nice horses,” he said.
Todd is booked to ride five-year-old mare Flying Annie in the Flying Handicap (1100m) on Saturday, with the winner sealing a Palmerston berth.
“I thought Flying Annie’s run the other day behind Ideas Man was really good,” he said.
“He’s one of the main ones to beat in the Sprint.
“Flying Annie is going well, she’s drawn a good gate and has only 54.5kg on her back.”
Two years ago, Clarke and Todd combined to win four of the eight Darwin Cup Carnival feature races, with Adam Nicholls also winning the Guineas for Clarke on Wolfburn.
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