Aaron Sweeney kicks off Darwin Cup Carnival with treble
NT jockey Aaron Sweeney could be set for another successful Darwin Cup Carnival after landing a treble at Fannie Bay on Saturday.
Sweeney got his campaign off to a flying start aboard Pink Panther and Starspangledancer for Top End trainer Gary Clarke, and on Frankfurt for Alice Springs trainer Kevin Lamprecht.
Frankfurt — the $1.95 favourite with online bookmakers — got the ball rolling for Sweeney in a 1600m 0-64 affair despite being forced four deep at the start before settling in third place.
Frankfurt made his move at the 500m and it was only with 100m to go that he finally caught Chris Pollard’s Raid The Spoils ($11) to win by a length, with Carrol Hunter’s Rank’n’File ($5) closing fast for third.
Sweeney left it late before Pink Panther ($3.40) got home by a length over 1300m at 0-76 level from Phil Cole’s Plague Stone ($4.80) and Angela Forster’s Volatore ($12).
Settling fourth, Pink Panther — a first-up winner on June 15 — was forced three deep turning for home, and although he gave Plague Stone a fair start, the former NSW galloper bridged the gap.
Fourth behind Plague Stone a month ago, Starspangledancer ($3.70) made it four wins from 12 Darwin starts when he led throughout to prevail by three lengths over 1200m in 0-62 company.
Starspangledancer held a big lead and was well clear turning for home before overcoming Pollard’s fast-finishing Steal The Field ($81) and Ella Clarke’s Style And Grace ($4).
Clarke wasn’t the only trainer to finish with a Darwin double on Saturday.
Lamprecht’s Daniher ($5.50), ridden by Mark Pegus, was fantastic en route to a narrow win over Clarke’s $3.20 favourite Magnetic Tycoon over 1600m (0-66).
Holding a big lead in the back straight, Daniher was reeled in and looked done before he regrouped to claim victory, with Global Wonder ($7.50) following stablemate Magnetic Tycoon home for third.
Cole’s sprinters Star Magnum ($3.50) and Exceedingly Magic ($7) both saluted with apprentice Emma Lines in the saddle.
Pegus had two wins on Saturday when he got Li’l Wonder ($5.50) home for trainer Chris Nash over 1300m in 0-58 grade, while Alice Springs trainer Lisa Whittle had success with Zourata ($4.60) over 1100m in 0-70 class with apprentice Jade Hampson on board.
Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl and apprentice Jasper Franklin tasted success in Darwin for the first time when Hadouken ($2.80 fav) saluted in a 1600m handicap.
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