It might only be a five-race meeting at Fannie Bay on Saturday, but just like every other Darwin trainer there’s no way Chris Pollard will be taking his eye off the ball.
A true professional on race day, Pollard has endured the highs and lows as a trainer both on and off the track during his 20 years in the Top End.
The wins might be few and far between since the start of the 2022/23 season, but he has had his fair share of minor placings and four-year-old mare Cudjerie has suddenly hit form.
In her first four Darwin starts, which included a first career start in March where she finished ninth in 1000m maiden, the best Cudjerie could produce was a fourth at her second start over 1100m (BM54) in May.
An eighth in an 1100m maiden in June was followed by a ninth over 1000m (Class 2) in August before the daughter of Star Turn saluted over 1000m (0-58) at $51 on September 10 and over 1000m (Class 2) at $19 on October 15 after settling out in front.
On Melbourne Cup Day, Cudjerie had a bit more weight and shared the lead over 1100m (Class 2) before fading to finish fourth after leading with 200m to go.
Looking for that next winner, Pollard has six starters entered at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Brimarvi Rooboy (Casey Hunter) and Lucky Dog (Stan Tsaikos) line up in the Darwin Racing Benchmark 54 Handicap (1200m), which is also Heat 1 of the Darwin Turf Club’s Lightning Wet Season Series, and in a very open race the Pollard stablemates are not without a chance.
Brimarvi Rooboy has had 20 starts in Darwin since arriving from South Australia for four wins, a second and five thirds, and on the other occasions he has missed a place the six-year-old gelding hasn’t been all that far away.
After back to back third placings, Brimarvi Rooboy had to settle for second over 1300m (0-64) on October 15 when he came within a whisker of toppling the in-form Freddy The Eagle.
Whereas Brimarvi Rooboy farewelled SA in March last year, Lucky Dog is a recent arrival in the tropics after having his last two starts down south at Port Augusta in May.
And the five-year-old gelding hasn’t done much wrong for Pollard following a first up fourth over 1100m (BM54) on October 15 when he trailed the winner by just two lengths before a last start second over 1300m (0-58) on November 1.
Brimarvi Rooboy’s last win was seven starts ago on July 2 – Day 1 of the Darwin Cup Carnival – when he snuck home over 1300m (0-58), while for Lucky Dog he hasn’t saluted since posting back to back wins at Oakbank in September last year.
Hunter, a highly successful jockey in Darwin and Alice Springs, rides for numerous NT trainers and has a long association with Pollard.
“I actually met Chris in Broome – probably five years ago, I reckon, so I know him from there,” she said.
“I flew up a couple of times to ride for him when I still lived in Perth.
“He’s a really good all-round horseman – has a background working on stations.
“He can do anything with a horse and really knows a lot about them.
“He trains them pretty good, we’ve had a few winners together.
“I enjoy riding for him, he’s laid back and easy to ride for.
“He doesn’t give you too many instructions, which is good.
“Chris has had a decent run lately – he’s getting some nice horses from some good owners.
“Hopefully he can get a really nice one.”
Hunter partnered Brimarvi Rooboy when he finished third on two occasions before Tsaikos took over as the pilot for his last start second, but the 28-year-old is back in the saddle on Saturday.
“He is going good, he’s a pretty consistent horse,” Hunter said.
“He’s drawn a bit wide (10), but hopefully he’ll be there at the finish like he was last start.
“I haven’t actually ridden him a lot, but his run the other day was pretty good.”
Hunter’s other rides for Pollard include Dream Chance (Race 1), Dream Weaver (Race 3) and Very Trixie (Race 5), while she will also ride the Tayarn Halter-trained Expert Witness (Race 2) in the feature race on the program.
Expert Witness has won four of his past six starts and is aiming for three straight wins in the TAB 0-76 Handicap (1000m) after Hunter guided the four-year-old gelding to a last start win over 1000m (BM76) on October 22.
Brimarvi Rooboy and Expert Witness should prove competitive, Dream Weaver is a genuine each way chance and Very Trixie races for the first time, but Hunter rates Dream Chance as perhaps her best hope.
“It was a pretty good run last start when third behind Bat Pad,” she said.
“Bat Pad is in pretty good form, so I’d say he’d be my best chance.”
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