Connor strikes back after Alice Springs Cup Carnival
Trainer Greg Connor had one win during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, but celebrated a winning double at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
Flying Yishu saluted during the Cup Carnival over 1200m (0-62) on April 6 and with apprentice Lek Maloney once again on board, Flying Artie’s four-year-old gelding went back to back when he overcame Paul Gardner’s Perkova ($4.40) and Ray Viney’s Strike Eagle ($4) by 2.2 lengths over 1200m (0-70).
Sitting in third place, Maloney made his move at the 500m before his mount sprinted clear with 100m to go after finally wearing down Terry Gillett’s leader Brat.
Flying Yishu started life in the Red Centre with three wins and three seconds before three failures in February and March.
Bold Tropic ($11), a six-year-old gelding, made it three wins from five starts when Darwin apprentice Emma Lines, back from suspension, got Zoustar’s son home over 1100m (0-58).
Having settled towards the rear of the field, Lines never left the fence as Connor’s charger clicked into gear and once turning for home Bold Tropic was among eight horses capable of winning.
At the 100m, Bold Tropic hit the front to outlast those who led or travelled wide by half a length with Gardner’s Lamoree ($8.50) and Leah Walling-Denton’s Future Dreams ($61) filling the minor placings.
Kickatorp ($2.60), Viney’s five-year-old gelding, third in the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) on April 6, won an exciting 1100m handicap.
Reduced to five starters when Dakota Lee was scratched, it proved a riveting contest with the quintet spread across the track passing the 200m.
Forced four deep by jockey Jessie Philpot turning for home, Kickatorp was the widest runner before edging clear to down Gillett’s Supreme Times ($9) and John Peacock’s Super Famous ($12) by half a length.
Kickatorp’s Alice Springs record since debuting last April is 11: 3-5-1.
Peacock, who brings horses to the NT every year, celebrated victory with Super Famous on his previous Pioneer Park visit last August.
On Saturday, the Murray Bridge trainer had another win when Step Forward ($4.80 fav), a four-year-old mare by Magnus, won the 1200m maiden from Gary Clarke’s Boomerconi ($26) and Connor’s Danny Whizzbang ($13).
Step Forward was ridden by visiting Victorian apprentice Hannah Le Blanc.
After three straight seconds, Kerry Petrick’s five-year-old mare Princess Pancakes ($6.50) finally secured a first NT win after 10 attempts by defeating Mark Pegus’ Awen ($5) and Gillett’s Valley Prince ($4.80) over 1400m (0-64).
Princess Pancakes was second behind Awen passing the 800m before hitting the front with 350m to go and prevailing by a length.
Finally, Top End apprentice Jade Hampson guided Will Savage’s six-year-old gelding Broad Outlook ($10) to a comfortable win over 1400m (0-64) from Kevin Lamprecht’s Daniher ($3.10 fav) and Dan Morgan’s Barocco Bar ($6).
Hampson got to an early lead aboard Broad Outlook, winless since last July, with No Nay Never’s son skipping four lengths clear at the 400m before winning by 2.2 lengths.