Paul Denton brings up 500th Alice Springs win on Delago Lad
Veteran NT jockey Paul Denton is enjoying a fabulous season and on Sunday rode his 500th winner in Alice Springs.
The 60-year-old hoop celebrated the milestone when he piloted the Greg Connor-trained Delago Lad to victory, and he ended the day with a winning double after he guided Connor’s Filthy Rich home.
With 23 wins, Denton has extended his lead over Sonja Logan (16.5) in the Alice Springs jockeys’ premiership.
“To get that 500th Alice Springs win was fantastic, it’s been a long time coming and it’s good to crack milestones like that, especially at my age,” he said.
“I knew on Sunday that only I had one win to go, that makes it 22 wins in Alice this season — the other win was at Tennant Creek.
“I’ve had a good run this season, but I was behind the eight ball in late September and didn’t think I was any chance as Kerry Petrick, who I ride for, rested her horses after taking them to Kununurra.
“Kerry then had about 20 horses in work and they started hitting form, so it was just prior to carnival that I thought I was half a chance.
“I was also picking up wins for other trainers and started creeping up the premiership ladder.”
Denton, who resides in the Red Centre, has won both the Alice Springs and Top End premiership on two occasions, as well as many NT feature races.
He has combined with Alice Springs trainer Petrick for 125 wins, and the pair will be hoping for a third consecutive NT Derby (2050m) win together when they team up with Starton during the forthcoming Darwin Cup Carnival.
“I’m currently in Darwin and was debating whether to go down for the last three Alice Springs meetings,” Denton said.
“I thought, ‘well, I hadn’t won the Alice premiership for 30 years and at 60 it’s unlikely I’ll have many other opportunities’, so I headed down on Sunday.
“Greg Connor rang me a couple of weeks ago and had a few rides lined up for me, so I decided to go.
“It worked out alright and it’s enhanced my premiership hopes — I’m going to be pretty hard to beat now.
“I’ll definitely ride at the next meeting in a fortnight and maybe the one after that, but I probably won’t go for the last one.
“They race in Darwin on the Saturday and then it’s Alice on Sunday and Darwin on the Wednesday before Cup weekend on Saturday and Monday.
“Hopefully, I will be well clear by then and won’t have to worry about that last Alice meeting.”
Despite his advancing years, Denton is still enjoying life in the saddle.
“I just love race day and I think I’m riding as well as ever,” he said.
“I’m probably lighter now than when I was 17 and I don’t have to waste, so that helps.
“I’m fit, strong and healthy, and while Kerry has got these new owners who have good horses it’s given us both a new lease on life.
“It’s actually nice to come to work when you’re no longer riding slow ones.”
Legend of the top end cheers mate