Tsaikos lights up Darwin with winning treble
He hadn’t ridden a winner in Darwin for two months, but the wily Stan Tsaikos bounced back with a winning treble on Saturday.
Tsaikos, who continues to ride in the NT while also fulfilling commitments in Tasmania, saluted on Ella Clarke’s Pop Magic (+230), Chole Baxter’s Shecanmixit (+240 fav) and Chris Pollard’s No Rain No Flowers (+1300).
Renowned for controlling the tempo of a race while in front before invariably stealing victory, Tsaikos employed such tactics with great effect.
Tsaikos, who has won the Alice Springs premiership twice, shared the lead in the Wet Season Series Final (1200m) before Pop Magic won by 6.8 lengths.
Shecanmixit, a five-year-old mare by Danerich, prevailed over 1200m (BM54) and No Rain No Flowers, a five-year-old mare by Shalaa, won a 1300m maiden.
After breaking the 1000m track record (56.02) in a maiden on her NT debut on December 8, Shecanmixit finished ninth over 1000m (0-58) in late December before coming second over 1000m (BM54) three weeks ago.
Hitting the ground from the outside gate (seven), Tsaikos had Shecanmixit on the fence and in front by the 1000m – but had Tom Logan’s Beatification (+250) parked on its girth at the 900m.
Shecanmixit finally broke Beatification’s heart at the 100m to win by 1.2 lengths with Patrick Johnston’s Barty Aya (+280) third.
No Rain No Flowers, who had gone close in six previous Darwin starts, finally delivered when Tsaikos found the lead passing the 1000m after drawing a wide gate in the 10-horse field.
For the remaining 900m, No Rain No Flowers maintained a two-length advantage before downing Dick Leech’s Mutany (+140 fav) and Phil Cole’s Proklisi (+260) by 1.4 lengths.
Apprentice Jade Hampson, winless at Fannie Bay in January, celebrated a double after partnering Leech’s Pride Of Limassol (+110 fav) over 1000m (0-58) and Tayarn Halter’s Fischer (+260) over 1600m (Class 2).
Pride Of Limassol, a five-year-old gelding by Pride Of Dubai, had managed a win and two seconds from four Top End starts, but had to fight hard before shaking off Baxter’s Aplomado ($2.60).
Aplomado, who held the fence, and Pride Of Limassol went stride for stride as from the 800m before the favourite forged ahead at the 200m to win by two lengths from Aplomado and Mark Nyhan’s Vascotto (+1800).
Fischer, a five-year-old gelding by Zoustar, finally won over 1600m at the sixth attempt when he caught the leader with 100m to go to make it two wins from 19 Darwin starts.
Cole’s Supremo (+550) hit the front at the 1200m and led by two lengths before Fischer and Kerry Petrick’s Princess Pancakes (+210 fav) bridged the gap with 300m to go.
Fisher pounced at the 100m to post an emphatic win by 5.2 lengths, while Supremo held on for second from Princess Pancakes.
Cole’s eight-year-old gelding Saccharo (-105.26 fav) posted his first win since returning from injury when he outclassed in-form stablemate Cielo D’Oro (+210) and Angela Forster’s Volatore (+380) in a five-horse field over 1300m (BM76).
Sitting three deep, Saccharo (Emma Lines), the son of Magnus, was camped behind leading pair Cielo D’Oro and Gary Clarke’s Desert Deamer (+800) before winding up at the 400m.
Saccharo (62kg) stormed home from the rear of the field on Australia Day to finish a narrow third behind Noir De Rue and Cielo D’Oro over 1300m (BM73), so to take charge on Saturday at the 100m carrying 60kg before winning by 1.8 lengths was no surprise.
Cole’s apprentice Lines, who now has 17 wins for the season, also ended the day with three seconds and a third.