Emergency Supreme Times becomes hot favourite in Pioneer Sprint
INCREDIBLY, the second favourite for Sunday’s $100,000 Alice Springs Toyota Pioneer Sprint (1200m) at Pioneer Park today may not face the starter.
The Terry Gillett-trained six-year-old gelding Supreme Times is tremendous form having clicked into gear to win his last four starts, but is only the first emergency.
The six-year-old gelding started as $5.50 with Bet365 for the premier event of the year for the sprinters in Central Australia.
Former Hong Kong galloper Solar Gale, from the Murray Bridge stable of Michael Hickmott in South Australia, is the $5 favourite in an open and highly-anticipated race.
Supreme Times arrived in the Top End last June after 21 starts in rural NSW and one appearance at the famous Birdsville meeting in outback Queensland.
He debuted at Adelaide River – the Northern Territory’s only turf track 100km south of Darwin – for former Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb before three runs at Fannie Bay in Darwin.
In his last race in Darwin, Supreme Times lost his rider with Sonja Wiseman suffering extensive injuries.
It was then off to Alice Springs where he finished fourth and third before finally breaking his duck in the NT to post a narrow win against 0-64 class over 1400m in September.
Gillett then took over as trainer when Robb took a step back and relocated to Dubbo.
A second and a sixth for the reigning champion trainer in Alice Springs saw Supreme Times go for a spell in December, but since returning in February he has gone to another level.
He won his first race by a lazy 15 lengths against 0-58 class over 1200m.
Two big wins followed against 0-76 opposition over 1200m before victory as a $2.05 favourite in open company over 1100m on April 9.
Suffice to say he has the runs on the board to make a serious impact in the Pioneer Sprint, and that was only enhanced when he drew barrier 4 in the 12 horse field – which has three emergencies.
“It’s unfortunate for Terry and jockey Stan Tsaikos because as a team they have been unstoppable in Alice Springs for the past two years,” Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole said.
“Terry and Stan are currently the leading trainer and rider in Alice this season, and will take some catching in the premiership race.
“It would be good to see them combine one day and win the Sprint or Cup during the Alice Carnival.
“Supreme Times is a chance if he gets a start, but it will be a bitter pill for the Gillett stable if he misses out after the unbeaten Dakota Lee was scratched from the NT Guineas when she failed to enter the gates.
“Everyone knows there is a qualifying procedure to qualify for races such as the Pioneer Sprint – that’s just the way it goes.”
Significantly, Gillet has another starter in the Pioneer Sprint in $23 hopeful Duke Of Hearts.
As of Saturday night there were six horses under double figure odds to win the Pioneer Sprint.
South Australian raider Tanner ($6) is in great nick, former Queensland five-year-old gelding Devil’s Temptation ($7.50) was an impressive debut winner of the recent $30,000 “The Soldier” Lightning (1000m) and it would be dangerous to ignore ever-consistent NT sprinter Eastwood ($7.50).
Eastwood, from Tayarn’s Halter stable in Darwin was runner up to Devil’s Temptation, on April 16.
Then there is the Chris Nash-trained Mayameen ($8.50), the reigning Darwin horse of the year, who won the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) during last year’s Darwin Cup Carnival.
Mayameen hasn’t raced since failing to make an impact in two starts in Adelaide late last year.
Last year’s Pioneer Sprint winner Smuggling is an $11 hope with top online bookmakers and Darwin trainer Phil Cole has summoned Victorian jockey Jason Maskiell to the Red Centre to partner the horse once again.
Meanwhile, Pioneer Park racecaller Dylan Bairstow has run the rule over the Pioneer Sprint.
“Couple of the major fancies have drawn wide,” Bairstow said.
“The good horse The Captain is drawn 12 with 61.5kg – I think that’s going to make his job difficult.
“Eastwood has also drawn a touch sticky.
“The interesting runner in the race is Solar Gale for Michael Hickmott – he has only raced in Hong Kong.
“He won four out of his first starts there then his form just tapered off a little bit – but I see he’s had a trial at Morphettville (1000m) and finished second behind Group 1 winner Bella Vella.
“He’s the major question – never seen the dirt which can turn any horses form upside down.
“If he brought his best form he’d be very hard to beat with a good jockey and a good gate.
“Solar Gale, I would probably lean to – but with a bit of a query.
“Supreme Times would be shooting for five in a row if it gets a run.
“Tanner is racing well – he worked his way into the field by winning the weight-for-age.
“I’m hoping Devil’s Temptation can win because that’s obviously my fiancé Jess Gleeson’s horse – if it all goes to plan that would be very nice.
“I’ll put Solar Gale on top, but with no confidence because I’ve seen horses with terrific form come up here and just fail on the dirt.
“First time on the dirt they can just really turn their toes up.”