Feature sprint attracts small but quality field at Alice Springs
It’s the last meeting of the year in Alice Springs on Sunday and the feature race is bound to attract plenty of interest.
The 1200m open handicap at Pioneer Park has only assembled a field of five, but very little separates the four leading contenders, which only adds to the intrigue.
The Leanne Gillett-trained Esashi is the $11 outsider and although the five-year-old mare will give it her best shot, it won’t be easy matching Great Buy, Supreme Times, Throw At Da Stumps and Perkova.
Despite lumping just 53kg with apprentice Ianish Luximon claiming 2kg, Esashi has had eight starts without success after winning three straight over 1000m in January, February and March.
Great Buy is the early $2.50 favourite, but Perkova ($3.50), Throw At Da Stumps ($4) and Supreme Times ($5) are certain to receive support.
“It’s shaping up as a terrific race and to be honest it’s hard to settle on a likely winner with confidence,” an Alice Springs trainer said.
Terry Gillett’s Great Buy, to be ridden by daughter Dakota, has won three of his past five starts – he was second to Supreme Times and Perkova in the other two races.
Dakota Gillett, 18, has joined the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable in Adelaide and last tasted victory at Pioneer Park on October 22 when she was successful aboard Supreme Times and Boy Big.
Two weeks ago, Great Buy, a seven-year-old gelding, carried 60kg in his quest to make it three straight wins and was far from disgraced before going down narrowly to Perkova (55.5kg) over 1400m (BM76).
Great Buy’s stablemate Supreme Times, an eight-year-old gelding, never seems to run a bad race and since arriving from NSW in August 2021 he has had 31 starts and has only missed finishing in the top four on four occasions.
Fourth in the Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in April, Supreme Times, who will be partnered by Stan Tsaikos this weekend, beat Great Buy home over 1100m in October and was only half a length behind Perkova on December 2.
Perkova, a five-year-old mare, is aiming for three straight wins after getting the cash over 1600m (0-64) in late November before claiming her seventh career win from 25 starts when she edged out Great Buy and Supreme Times a fortnight ago.
After farewelling NSW, Perkova had one start during the Darwin Cup Carnival in August for a second over 1000m (0-62) before settling in Central Australia where her only other win from nine starts occurred in September over 1200m (0-58).
With Paul Gardner and Sonja Logan, the leading trainer and jockey in the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership, in her corner, Perkova must be respected – although she won’t have a significant weight advantage on this occasion.
Kerry Petrick’s Throw At Da Stumps, with the wily Paul Denton in the saddle, has to be considered as the five-year-old gelding drops 4kg following his impressive defeat of the in-form Red Wraith over 1000m (BM76) on November 25.
Throw At Da Stumps was making his Alice Springs debut that day and eye-balled Red Wraith from start to finish before getting home by a nose, and after winning his first two races in the Top End prior to the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival the former Victorian galloper clearly has ability.
“At a pinch, I think Great Buy will win, but it will be interesting if Perkova and Throw At Da Stumps can settle in front,” the trainer said.
“Esashi likes to lead, so it should be hectic with a fair amount of early speed – that might benefit Supreme Times who likes sitting off the pace.
“It’s not often you have such a high-quality field at this time of year, I’m certainly looking forward to it.”