HOW SWEET IT IS FOR CLARKE

Taste of victory never gets old ... Java salutes in Chief Minister’s Cup

CHAMPION Darwin trainer Gary Clarke was delighted when star runner Java won the feature race seven $30,000 Red Centre Technology Partners Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) at Pioneer Park yesterday.

The eight-year-old veteran, with jockey Jarrod Todd on board, leapt out to a quick lead before saluting by more than two lengths over Angela Forster’s Lotion.

Java’s win was his second from his past three starts, with his other coming in the St Patrick’s Day Cup, where he triumphed over Chris Pollard’s Pinzu on March 14, who placed eighth yesterday.

“It was really good. He’s one of my favourite old horses,” Clarke told the Sunday Territo

rian. “He’s got good speed and that’s what won him the race – taking the lead through the curve and maintaining that speed to stay away. The others couldn’t catch him.

“Java has had a really good career, which is coming to an end.

“Realistically I probably would have retired him after the Alice Springs Cup but I’m keeping him on until things return to normal with this virus.”

Clarke was also happy with the run of four-year-old Final Hearing (jockey Kim Gladwin), a newcomer to the Clarke stable who placed third in the Chief Minister’s Cup.

Scott Westover’s Gaugin and Lisa Whittle’s Peressini followed behind, beating out one of the early favourites in Terry Gillett’s That’s Justified.

Other winners at Pioneer Park yesterday were:

Billet Doux (trainer Sheila Arnold, jockey Wayne Davis), Cyclonite (Whittle, Paul Denton), Arrogant Miss (Russell Bell, Dan Morgan), The Trooper (Kevin Lamprecht, Lorelle Crow), So Stoic (Pollard, Barry Huppatz) and Skaldak (Emma Steel, Todd).