SYNCLINE DOMINATES IN SPRINT
Emotional victory for Clarke, Todd and connections as gelding fires in $135k feature
THE Gary Clarke-trained Syncline has won an emotion-charged Palmerston Sprint at Darwin Turf Club on Saturday, leaving one of its jubilant owners close to tears.
The $5 favourite, ridden by Jarrod Todd, saluted easily at Fannie Bay in the $135,000, 1200m feature race, making his move out of the turn and extending his lead with every metre from there.
The five-year-old was almost two lengths clear of runner-up Smuggling, from the stable of Phil Cole, when he hit the line.
It was Dick Leech’s Easy Beast who completed the podium, 4½ lengths behind the race leader, pipping Clarke’s second sprinter, The Captain, ridden by Adam Nicholls.
At the official presentation, the trainer said jockey Jarrod Todd had proved yet again he was a huge part of his stable by taking out the Territory’s premier sprint.
“He’s not only our stable rider, he’s one of the team,” Clarke said,.
“He deserves all the success he gets because he works very hard for it.
“It’s a race I try and target every year.
“You need everything to go right to get up here after the race.”
Co-owner Chris Lambley was clearly the happiest man on the track, saying the victory had followed a rough 12 months for the Clarke family after the loss of Gary’s son Guy.
“It was fantastic, I’ve won a lot of Palmerston Sprints but this was a really important one with the loss the Clarke family has suffered,” Lambley said moments after the win.
“Gary and the team have done an amazing job.
“There’s nothing better than winning the Palmerston Sprint, this is the hardest race to win in Darwin.
“Northern Territory is full of sprinters.
“What they’ve achieved is just sensational.”
He said it was an “amazing feeling” to pocket another sprint.
“As an owner, you don’t train the horses, you don’t feed the horses, you don’t treat the horses but on a day like today you’re part it,” he said.
Fellow co-owner Leanne Montgomerie, whose daughter Simone died after a race fall at Fannie Bay almost nine years to the day on a Clarke-trained horse, said it was a “special” victory.
“I think (Simone) was looking down on us today, it was a tough race,” Montgomerie said.
“Nine years this year, so it has been an emotional time.
“Simone loved the sport, we love the sport and I think you just keep doing it for her.
“It’s one big family, the racing community. Everyone gets behind you, gets you past those dark days.”
At the presentation, Todd said it was a special win for the Clarke stable.
“They’re a wonderful family,” the jockey said
“They’re not just trainers, they’re not just my employers, they make me feel part of the family.
“It’s a very special win today, we’ve had a very tough year.
“We’ve got the Alice (Spring) Cup, and now we’ve got the Sprint.
“It doesn’t make up for anything, but it just shows you how strongwilled they are.”
The Clarke-Todd duo also won in race three with Mr Cashman.