He has had big days in Alice Springs previously, and with a decent book of rides, Stan Tsaikos could be the one to follow on Sunday.
Tsaikos, who continues to commute from his Geelong base to ride in Alice Springs and Darwin, will partner Terry Gillett’s Dakota Lee, Family Ties and Altar Boy, as well as Dan Morgan’s Maid Of Mystery.
The quartet are considered to have strong hopes, with Tsaikos having ridden five winners during a meeting at Pioneer Park and four winners on two other occasions.
He has won the Alice Springs and Provincial jockeys’ premiership twice and won the Alice Springs Cup on Kerry Petrick’s Venting in April.
That’s after winning the Pioneer Sprint (Supreme Attraction), NT Guineas (Valley Prince), Chief Ministers Cup (That’s Justified) and The Soldier Lightning (Early Crow) in the past.
Alice Springs’ pride and joy Dakota Lee, the $1.85 favourite with online bookmakers, will aim to make it nine wins from as many starts at her home track when she takes on open company over 1200m.
The five-year-old mare, who developed claustrophobia two years ago when being placed into the stalls before being sent to Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy for therapy, could head to Darwin for the Palmerston Sprint (1200m) in August, should she salute.
The daughter of Kuroshio, who also injured her suspensory with the McEvoy’s, won seven straight for the Gillett’s before she was scratched from the NT Guineas (1600m) in April 2022 when she refused to enter the gates.
She made her return at Moonee Valley in February when ninth over 1000m (BM64) before making a triumphant home-coming over 1000m at open level on Alice Springs Cup Day (April 7) with Gillett’s apprentice daughter Dakota-Lee, whom the horse was named after, the pilot for the first time.
Tsaikos, who has had six wins aboard Dakota Lee, replaces Dakota-Lee on Sunday, with the apprentice riding the Gillett’s new arrival Morgenstern.
“Obviously, I’m looking forward to getting back on Dakota Lee,” Tsaikos said.
“Fingers crossed, we can try and fix her barrier manners.
“Not that she is any trouble in the barriers, it’s more getting her in – it’s a confidence thing.
“Terry hasn’t made his mind up yet, but I believe taking Dakota Lee to Darwin is on the cards.
“She could probably hold herself well in the Palmerston.
Family Ties ($7.50), who suffered a narrow loss two weeks ago after a spell, will feature over 1100m (0-64) and Altar Boy, victorious by 6.5 lengths in his second NT start a fortnight ago, lines up over 1400m (0-64) on Sunday.
Altar Boy ($1.65 fav) was formerly trained in Townsville by Sarah Acornley, the wife of former Darwin jockey Carl Spry, a current jockey and former trainer in Townsville.
Maid Of Mystery ($4.20 fav) makes her Alice Springs debut in a 1400m maiden and will jump from the outside gate in the 12-horse field.
The four-year-old mare arrives from the stable of Ken and Kasey Keys in Victoria with her best performance from four starts, a third over 1600m at Cranbourne.
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