Defending champions headline Pioneer Sprint and Alice Springs Cup nominations
The biggest day on the Alice Springs Turf Club’s calendar is starting to take shape.
Nominations for the $110,000 Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint scheduled for Sunday, May 1 at Pioneer Park have been released.
There have been 23 nominations for the Alice Springs Cup, while there are 29 nominations for the Pioneer Sprint.
Only 12 starters can feature in both races, so with weights being declared on Monday it’s the last chance saloon for some quality sprinters and stayers at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
The winner of the $40,000 Red Centre Technology Partners Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) is exempt from the ballot for the Ladbrokes Alice Springs Cup as they will automatically seal a start in the race.
It’s the same scenario for the Pioneer Sprint as the winner of the $25,000 Ladbrokes Switch WFA (1200m) will be backing up come Sunday week.
Both races this weekend should prove highly competitive.
Of the 12 starters in the Chief Ministers Cup, 10 have nominated for the Cup.
They include former Alice Springs Cup winner Lotion, former NT Guineas winner Valley Prince, former NT Derby winner Budget King, Coin Collector, Count Of Essex, Exonerate, Orcein, Stealthy Lucas, Trident and Desert Lass.
That’s Justified, an outstanding miler in the Northern Territory, and Pinzu complete the field.
Trident overcame three-year-old opposition over 1200m and Exonerate toppled 0-70 rivals over 1400m on Alice Springs Cup Day last year, while one other 2022 Alice Springs Cup nomination Doon Buggy finished second against 0-76 opposition over 2000m on the same program.
Those who have nominated for the Cup after contesting Alice Spring’s biggest race last year include the winner I Am The Fox, fifth-placed Lord Bouzeron and eighth-placed Ash Grey, who won the race in 2018.
There are seven starters in the WFA and each one has nominated for the Sprint.
Expect last year’s Pioneer Sprint winner Smuggling, Duke Of Hearts, Mathematics, Regal Capital, Signor Fangio, Trystoff and Tanner to go for broke.
Mathematics was victorious at a 0-58 level over 1000m on 2021 Alice Springs Cup Day, while the in-form Mini Boom and the handy Miles Prower had the chance to stretch their legs on the same program.
Of the nominees for the Sprint those who participated in the race 12 months ago include Smuggling (first), Trystoff (third), Duke Of Hearts (fourth), Regal Capital (sixth), Eastwood (seventh), The Captain (11th) and Kronos (12th).
Subsequently, the Garry Lefoe Jnr trained I Am The Fox, an impressive winner over 1900m last Saturday, and the Phil Cole trained Smuggling are aiming to defend their Cup and Sprint crowns, respectively.
And there are those nominated for the two feature races in Darwin who made a huge impression in the Darwin Cup (2050m) and Palmerston Sprint (1200m) during last year’s Darwin Cup Carnival that followed the Alice Springs Cup Carnival.
In the Cup, Danon Ramon finished second followed by I Am The Fox (eighth), Trident (ninth), Ash Grey (10th) and Lotion (12th).
Mayameen, who is the reigning Darwin horse of the year, won the Palmerston followed by Smuggling (third), Eastwood (fourth) and Our Luca (seventh).
Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole, who also works for Sky Racing, said that the nominations for both feature races were excellent.
“Looks like you will need to have a horse rated no less than 70 to get a run in the Alice Springs Cup, and a 74 or 73 rating in the Pioneer Sprint,” he said.
“Last year’s Cup winner I Am The Fox is obviously flying again, but will have to carry close to 60kg this year – up from his 54kg last year.
“He will be tested by Trident, and the visitors from Michael Hickmott’s yard among others, but he was mightily impressive in the 1900m lead up last Saturday.
“The Sprint looks an open affair, with a host of chances, including the Palmerston Sprint winner Mayameen, war-horse Eastwood, old stager The Captain and last week’s winner Devil’s Temptation among the leading chances.
“But they certainly don’t end there and barrier draws will be all important in the dash for cash.”
Alice Springs Cup Nominations< (2000m)
- Ash Grey (Terry Gillett)
- Bench Press (Terry Gillett)
- Budget King (Garry Lefoe Jnr)
- Coin Collector (Dick Leech)
- Count Of Essex (Gary Clarke)
- Danon Roman (Michael Hickmott)
- Desert Lass (Lisa Whittle)
- Doon Buggy (Russell Bell)
- Exonerate (Carrol Hunter)
- Flying Start (Greg Connor)
- I Am The Fox (Garry Lefoe Jnr)
- Jet Jackson (Mark Nyhan)
- Leonarda (Dennis McMahon)
- Lord Bouzeron (Michael Hickmott)
- Lotion (Angela Forster)
- Lunch Session (Dick Leech)
- Masaru Warrior (Will Savage)
- Military Zone (Phil Cole)
- Orcein (Angela Forster)
- Stealthy Lucas (Nicole Irwin)
- Trident (Mark Nyhan)
- Valley Prince (Terry Gillett)
- Zelring (Lisa Whittle)
2022 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) – Likely Field
- I Am The Fox
- Trident
- Danon Roman
- Budget King
- Valley Prince
- Military Zone
- Exonerate or Lord Bouzeron
- Stealthy Lucas
- Ash Grey
- Lotion or Orcein
- Desert Lass
- Leonarda
- Bench Press
- Count Of Essex
Emergencies
2022 Pioneer Sprint Nominations (1200m)
- Arrogant Miss (Russell Bell)
- Bar Gem (Greg Connor)
- Blue Odyssey (Gary Clarke)
- Bryan’s Babe (Trevor Montgomerie)
- Cut It Out (Will Savage)
- Devil’s Temptation (Jess Gleeson)
- Duke Of Hearts (Terry Gillett)
- Eastwood (Tayarn Halter)
- Elixir (Will Savage)
- Exact Replica (Phil Cole)
- Giant Leep (Gary Clarke)
- Glock (Jess Gleeson)
- Halgard (Dick Leech)
- Kronos (Phil Cole)
- Mathematics (Lisa Whittle)
- Mayameen (Chris Nash)
- Mighty Murt (Lisa Whittle)
- Miles Prower (Greg Connor)
- Mini Boom (Phil Cole)
- Our Luca (Kerry Petrick)
- Poupee (Tom Logan)
- Regal Capital (Lisa Whittle)
- Signor Fangio (Dick Leech)
- Smuggling (Phil Cole)
- Solar Gale (Michael Hickmott)
- Supreme Times (Terry Gillett)
- Tanner (Trevor Montgomerie)
- The Captain (Gary Clarke)
- Trystoff (Greg Connor)
2022 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) – Likely Field
- Devil’s Temptation
- The Captain
- Eastwood
- Duke Of Hearts
- Mayameen or Smuggling
- Bryan’s Babe
- Exact Replica or Our Luca
- Elixir or Supreme Times
- Blue Odyssey or Giant Leap
- Bar Gem
- Kronos
- Regal Capital
Emergencies